PG Common News

SPANDANA – RESPONDING TO REALITIES 2017
Theme: Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Youth Change Makers the New Norm

Spandana is a platform for the convergence of student social workers to share thoughts, ideas and knowledge and join hands together to respond to realities to make this world a better place not only for our present generations but also for the future.
Roshni means “Light”; to spread this light of love, peace, joy, harmony and dispelling selfishness, ignorance, illiteracy, poverty and violence, translating these values into reality, this meet of student social work professionals from across the country, aims to share these values to bring sustainability of holistic wellbeing. School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya does not only believe in classroom teaching but enables students to learn along with academics skills such as planning, organizing, enacting and evaluating with the vision to develop students in all spheres of life and one such activity is Spandana.

School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya in association with Ashoka Innovators for the Public, Bengaluru organized a National Level Social Work Students Symposium. It was inaugurated on 9th February at 10:00 am by Shri. K.S. Bilagi – Chief Guest, Honourable District Principal and Sessions Judge. Dr. Jenis Mary P., Vice Principal, School Of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Prof. Eveleen Benis – Student Welfare Officer, School Of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya. Student Co-ordinator Ms. Vineta Fernandes and Student Secretary – Ms. Jessy Sharon were present on the occasion.

Shri K. S. Bilagi aimed at how we from varied cultures have come together for this Symposium, he spoke about Thomas Alva Edison and his mother who trusted him irrespective of the many barriers that came along. He focused on youth saying despite great intervention, society needs youth who need to do their best in the time we have and not worry about what we are in control of! It enabled the students to understand the importance of time, inventions and dreams with passion and hard work to become a better entrepreneur in social work.

Dr. Jenis Mary P.- Vice Principal gave the Presidential Address on how the students as social workers can be Entrepreneurs in varied fields for the Holistic Development of the society.

The resource person of the second session was Professor Satyajit Majumdar, Professor & Chairperson, Centre for Social Entrepreneur, School of Management and Labour Studies. TISS, Mumbai he spoke on:

• Development perspectives in India the merging paradigm especially with the rural youth.
• Social entrepreneurship and innovation the new norms
• Social entrepreneurship – a status in India and the opportunities
• His talk had its complexities and contradictions as they were trying to make us understand the different paradigm shifts in today’s culture.

Session three was by Mr. Ravi Raj V. Durwas, Programme Manager Incubation centre, Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, TISS, Mumbai. He gave the concept of incubation Centre, how social problems exist in society and how we can come up with new social ventures. Vision enhances the entrepreneur for a better tomorrow, series of experiences forms a sustainable model.

Mr. Renny D’souza Director PADI, Education for human society was the resource person for the fourth session. He aimed at Education Resource Centre, adapted at PADI working for right based and value added education to the individual in need. Education Resource Centre has its own democratically elected body; they are initially funded and are self-sustained. They developed it to build resources by marketing their books.

After lunch, the paper presentation took place at three places simultaneously with the participants from different colleges.

The last session for the day was by Dr. Ganesh Bhat, Department of Commerce, St. Mary’s college, Sirva. NidhishRao, Assistant Professor, MITTE, Mangalore who were the two Panelists and it was moderated by Dr. K. Sankaran, Director, Justice K. S. Hegde Institute of Management, NITTE. They spoke about the investors and business. Rather than giving Charity, one should help people to come up with new ideas and inventions, and this process leads to the market of development.

On the second day of Spandana 2017, Mr. Yashveer Singh Director, Youth Venture Ashoka Innovators for the Public started the first session for the day. He highlighted the concept of Entrepreneurship by connecting it to social work, the new entrepreneurs, and the characteristics of being a good entrepreneur and why to be an entrepreneur.

The session was an eye-opener through the videos of different individuals and their individuals and their innovations of their technology. He set a platform for the students to participate and come up with new ideas, solutions and how we can sustain those ideas in society.

The valedictory ceremony on 10th February 2017 concluded the Symposium of Spandana responding to realities 2017. The chief guest was Mr. Roopa Shetty- Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Puttur shared her true testimony of Roshni Nilaya and the learnings/experience she gained to improve herself personally and professionally.

Ms. Asha Lobo, Faculty and Organising Secretary of Spandana expressed her hearty gratitude to all the students, committees, organizers, staff and key persons for making Spandana – Responding to realities 2017 a grand success.