Consider Giving Credit Points To Students Involved In Swachh Bharat Activities: University Grants Commission To Universities

New Delhi: Want to bring about change then start young, seems to be the thought process behind the latest message from University Grants Commission (UGC) to universities and colleges. To inculcate the norms of clean and healthy living amongst the youth, the higher education regulator has now asked all the universities, institutes and colleges to consider offering Swachh Bharat Abhiyan activities as an elective course under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). The University Grants Commission secretary Rajnish Jain wrote to the vice-chancellors and heads of over 800 universities and about 38,000 colleges on March 23, suggesting that students pursuing courses in higher education institutions should be given two credit points for undergoing 15-days (100 hours) summer internship under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan activities.

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In this summer internship, it is expected that the students will not only participate in the overall cleanliness in the villages or slums but would also help in setting up systems for sustaining cleanliness and sanitation efforts under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The objective of this initiative is to further the existing measures being undertaken by the higher education institutions across India in ensuring a clean and healthy India. This activity will help involve more students in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan work,” said an official.

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Like any other elective course offered under the Choice Based Credit System, this elective will be given two credits. A decision to this effect was taken by the UGC at a meeting held on March 20, 2018.

These efforts are expected to provide a great learning experience in the Indian context to students across the country, and would help in improving the overall quality of education. You are requested to consider implementation of this elective course from the forthcoming summer session and give wide publicity among the students so that vast majority of the students opt for this elective course, reads the notification.

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This decision is part of the University Grants Commission’s ‘Swachh Bharat-Swasth Bharat’ scheme launched in 2014 with an objective to inculcate among students the idea of a Swachh Bharat through 4Cs – Clean Mind, Clean Body, Clean Environment and Clean Society.

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