Bhubaneswar, Dec. 17: ‘Jaago’, a movement involving students of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here, is dedicated to the welfare of children belonging to the lowest strata of society, SOA Vice- President Ms. Saswati Das has said.
“It is a challenge and it aims at the overall development of children who are neglected because of their circumstances,” she said on Monday while speaking at a program organised at the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) and attended by the new batch of students who have taken admission in different streams in the university.
While welcoming the new students, she thanked the those continuing their studies in the university for taking keen interest in social work and programs intended to benefit the society.
Large number of SOA students have been spending their leisure hours after classes teaching slum children while the university takes care of their health and other needs. The children are brought to the campus by university buses in the evening to be taught by students.
Ms. Das said poverty often caused rare talents to fade away unnoticed but Jaago’s objective was to ensure the all round development of such children and shape their personality.
She also mentioned about the contribution made by the faculty members, staff and students of SOA for the growth and accomplishments of the university over the years.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, who also attended the program, said ‘Jaago’ was launched soon after it was accorded the Deemed to be University status in July 2007. Students who were involved in the movement were developing into responsible citizens, he said.
The program was also addressed by Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty, Dean, Institute of Dental Sciences, Prof. Renu Sharma, AdditionalDean (Student Affairs), ITER and Prof. Anita Panda, Mentor of Jaago. Prof. P.K. Sahoo, Dean, ITER, Prof. Manas Kumar Mallick, Director, ITER and Prof. (Dr.) Basanta Kumar Pati of IMS and SUM Hospital, were present.
