Title of Practice

Bio-Product Research and Training Centre (BRT)

Objective
• To supplement technical support and to train the farmers of region.
• To nourish research atmosphere in the college.
• To provide wide scale platform for students under the scheme of ‘earn while you learn’.
• Consultancy to the small entrepreneurs of the region.
• To undertake research projects based on value addition of natural products available in the region.
• To generate revenue to enhance the facilities.
• To make graduating youths job ready with necessary work skills.
• Provide expertise by way of consultancy to the industry.

The Context
‘Bio-Product Research and Training Centre’ was formed in April-2006. Idea of setting up of such ambitious center with limited financial resources was a bit challenging and courageous on the backdrop of stand it in commanding position in a span of twelve years. Initially soil testing laboratory was established in May 2006 with few resources available, such as the instruments those are purchased for post graduate center in the year 2005 and those were under-utilized conditions or having limited access at post graduate level. During last twelve years laboratory is upgraded with the loan support from State Bank Of India, Devgad and with self-financial support - revenue generated from this soil testing laboratory. Significant Activities:
• Testing Facilities for Agriculture, value added products.
• Training for students and farmers
• Consultancy and revenue generation

The Practice
At present the centre is well equipped with following testing facilities:-
• Soil – 22 different parameters with fertilizers recommendations.
• Water [Irrigation Purpose] – 10 different parameters.
• Organic Manures – 10 different parameters.
• Leaf and Petiole – 10 different parameters.
• Chitin and Chitoson – Protein content.
Since year 2007-08 the centre actively participated in central Government funded scheme Rashtriy Krushi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) run by the department of agriculture. This scheme was successfully implemented by state government under the directions of central government up to year 2013-14. During this period centre has analyzed over 16000 soil samples which were received for analysis from District soil testing office of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts. In the first phase of this scheme, the centre, on behalf of District soil testing and soil survey officer of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts formulated the fertility
index of each village from which the soil samples were received for analysis and the flex board reflecting that fertility index was displayed at Gram Sachivalaya of that village. Further, 2014 onwards this scheme was modified by Central Government and implemented as Mission Soil Health Card Scheme. Since 2014-15, this scheme was implemented by state government under the directions of central government in the form of cycle. The first cycle was 2014-15 to 2016-17, during which around 7000 soil samples, which we received for analysis from District soil testing office of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts were analyzed and around 70000 soil health cards were distributed among the farmers of different villages
through agricultural department of every tehsil. This entire process was executed effectively and successfully owing to the funding provided by central and state government. This government funding also helps college to implement our ‘earn while learn’ scheme in effective manner. Along with this social contribution, on commercial basis, the centre analyzed soil, water, organic manure, and leaf and petiole samples from individual local farmers in the laboratory. The local farmers are benefited by this facility and this will remain continue in future. The institution socially connected to the local farmers through this BRT Centre.

Evidence of Success
Consultancy
Consultancy is provided to farmers and various small entrepreneurs in region. Moreover the centre has provided the technological support to academic institutions for setting up of similar kind of soil testing laboratory. The list of the clients of the centre is inclusive of many reputed firms also.

Research
• Preparation of project report on manufacturing of Organic manures.
• Laboratory level experiments on manufacturing of Chitin, Chitoson, Glucosamine from fish wastes.
• Providing testing facility to various research projects of faculty and students.

Revenue Generated
One of the objectives of the centre is to generate revenue. Since May 2006 total revenue generated by the centre is around Rs. 65 Lakhs from the analysis of around 26000 soil samples, Revenue helped the college to repay its loans also. Beneficiaries of the centre are mango growers of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district, small entrepreneurs, students and nearby institution for instrumental support. In this practice the institution has multiple roles like connecting the college to society for welfare, revenue generation, student support in the form of earn while learn scheme, consultancy and extension service for betterment of local farmers, inculcate research aptitude and optimum utilization and mobilization of resources available with institution.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required
Initially, Chemistry department of the college carried out an extensive survey over the local region to check the project-necessity and to connect society. College organised special gatherings of local farmers especially in the form of field trials.
Second and foremost aim was the optimum utilization of human and technological resources available with the institution. Laboratory instruments used for post graduate classes are common and could be used for to facilitate this testing laboratory. Owing to unavailability of some instruments for analysis of some parameters, college preferred out sourcing and afterwards college purchased own instruments and stepped
into commercial market. College raised funds through loan from SBI and in due course cleared its loan accounts.

Future Plans
• Upgrade of testing laboratory with advance instrumentation like High Pressure Liquid
• Chromatography, GC-MS, Elemental Analyzer with ICP etc.
• To provide testing facilities to the small scale food and canning industries of Sindhudurg district.
• To provide advance instrumentation facility to the research students and teachers of Konkan region.
• To develop a mobile van with well-equipped soil testing facilities reach to farmers.
• 5.To run short term crash courses on hands on training on advance instruments like HPLC, GC, FTIR, GC-MS etc.

Title of Practice

URMI: Be Visible

Objective
College women development cell actively organizes number of activities such as awareness towards health related issues, sessions on self-reliance for girl students. To extend the activities with a focus on employment creation and entrepreneurship, an innovative scheme ‘URMI: Be Visible’ was initiated. Urmi aims to provide seed funding, mentoring and necessary support to the aspiring girl students who wish to establish their enterprise.

The Context
Socio-economic transformation is a continuous process and presently it is accelerated. Empowerment and financial independence of women can bring socio-economic transformation among women class of the society. CWDC, IQAC and principal realized that the instrumental efforts are more required that theoretical and guiding effort. CWDC frequently organized employment related workshops and guidance lectures for the girl students but need to bring a concrete platform for such activities has been emphasized. Expert committee of the college has come up with the suggestion of the formal initiative. A thought behind the idea was the momentum gained by the girl students start-up through the Urmi (meaning a wave), will certainly create ripples to change the social currents. Introducing the concept and conveying the objectives of URMI to the girl students was a real intricate task. Girls needed many sessions and discussion at individual level to come up with ideas on start-ups. On such backdrop, the expert committee put forth the idea of seed funding scheme for girl students to startup their own enterprise. The responsibility of execution of the scheme and related activities was entrusted to two young lady faculty members.

The Practice
Educational institutes should also think enhance the students competent for career and capable of creating employment, and also the responsibility of improving quality of lives and thus social conditions rely on the institute. CWDC of the college has already been working for the through personality development of the girl students of the college including the focus on the employment potential of the girls. The efforts were inclusive of workshops, expert lectures and guidance but in the year 2016-2017 the efforts were brought under formal platform and named as Urmi: Be Visible, an incubation centre for the economic development
of the girls with a belief that hand holding a woman to achieve her dream can assert a positive influence on the lives of many others in the society. Besides career-guidance and enhancement of employment potential of girl students a seed funding upto Rs. 50,000/- was announced. The scheme was officially launched witnessing a large gathering of girls on the occasion of International Women’s Day, The concept of URMI was elaborated and appeal was made to come up with start-up ideas.
A series of workshops/ lectures to motivate girls, to impregnate their minds with start-up ideas was conducted.
Girl students, aspiring to initiate start-up were appealed to submit their business concept, project proposal and plan for execution. Response from the girls was not frustrating on the background mentioned above. College has formed a committee for the scrutiny of proposals and interview of the aspirants. Committee comprised of two lady teachers from the college and an external expert. After the scrutiny of each application and having interaction with the candidates, the committee finalizes the most deserving proposal The terms and conditions of the funding and nature of support are conveyed to the recipient of seed funding.

Evidence of Success
Girl students attending the workshops and sessions have been observed to reflect change in confidence in their personality.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required
During the implementation of the scheme, college encountered few obstacles:
• Lack of exposure to the industries/market in Devgad taluka.
• The concepts, entrepreneur and start-up were practically unknown to the students and faculty as well.
• Unwillingness of the girls and parents for start-up as most of the girls come with the non-business family.
• Approach and prejudice of the society towards the women class.

Resources required and remedies of problems:
• Interaction with women entrepreneurs from the Sindhudurg district and their success stories.
• Survey of resources available and possible business opportunities in the district.
• Inculcation of management skills among the girl students.
• Building right attitude required for career as an entrepreneur among girl students.
• Attempts will be made to inculcate professional ethics among girl students.
• Organized two days workshop sponsored State Women Commission for Women Self-help Groups in the district.

Notes
Future Plans:
• To broaden the scope of women employment through self-reliance, training workshops will be arranged and necessary support will be provided to the nearby adopted village, Mithmumbari.
• Organization of long term workshops on startup with the help of external agencies.
• To begin add on diploma with the help of external agencies and industries course emphasizing practical training for the girl students.