Co-curricular Activities 2017-18

Campus and Community Yuva - Life Skills Programme

CMCA’s Campus and Community Yuva – Life Skills Programme

The brain child of the Principal of the college, Principal Dr. Padma Rangan and an outcome of a discussion she had with a CMCA (Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness) Resource Person, Ms. Brinda Ganesh, Mahatma Night Degree College students got an opportunity to participate in the Community Yuva – Life Skills Programme. Mahatma Night Degree College of Arts and Commerce, Chembur, Mumbai is a pioneer partner with the CMCA for the Campus and Community Yuva – Life Skills Programme.

About CMCA:
CMCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming our young into concerned, thinking and acting citizens for an inclusive and sustainable India. CMCA’s structured Citizenship and Life Skills programmes run in hundreds of government and private educational institutions.

About Campus and Community Yuva – Life Skills Programme: Conceptualized in 2012, the Campus and Community Yuva – Life Skills Program is the college counterpart of the CMCA Club Program. The program is a partnership between CMCA and young people for a collective process of learning, reflecting and acting together to bring about Democratic Societal Change while also strengthening Life Skills which are essential to lead a personally fulfilling life.

The Campus and Community Yuva – Life Skills Programme was organized for the students in the academic year 2017-18. 16 sessions were conducted for the S.Y.B.Com. ‘A’ and ‘B’ divisions. Sessions were conducted every Wednesday in room number 401 of the college.

The resource person from CMCA was Ms. Brinda Ganesh and the teacher-coordinator for the college was Associate Professor Dr. Lata Krishnan. Several senior resource persons participated and contributed to the sessions organized for the students. We thank Ms. Brinda Ganesh and Ms. Effy Acharya for their participation and support.

First Term:

  • Introduction to CMCA and the findings of YUVA Nagrik Meter Survey readings
  • Democratic Citizenship Values – With Democratic Citizenship Values of 21%, the need for raising awareness among the youth of India was brought out
  • Urban Local Governance – “The Right Move” movie was relayed in the subsequent session with the follow up on Urban Local Governance
  • Help Line numbers – Students were familiarized with the help line numbers of BMC, its different departments and other agencies
  • Eco-Friendly Ganesha – The signature campaign (with more than 200 signatures) for Eco-Friendly Ganesha was initiated by two students at the college level and resulted in the installation of an eco-friendly Ganesha in the computer lab of the college this year
  • Inspiration – Students attended the CMCA event “Inspiration” on 9th August, 2017
  • World Democracy day (Campaign) and Club Launch was celebrated on 14th September, 2017 where in students participated in a skit highlighting the 4 C’s and the use of help-line numbers

Second Term:

  • Preamble of our Constitution – Understanding the key words in the Preamble of our Constitution as well as a peep into the Preambles of few other countries was covered
  • Challenges that pose Indian Democracy – Caste System was explained with the help of an interesting “Bindi” activity. Reservation viewed as Affirmative actions by few countries was discussed
  • A session on Fundamental Duties – Being informed about the much less known Fundamental Duties made the College Curriculum special
  • An activity on Social Scientific Temper – Apart from respecting our Constitution and practicing Fundamental Rights, CMCA Yuva emphasised on developing Social Scientific Temper through yet another interesting activity
  • Critical Thinking : To build critical thinking in students a discussion on “India Shining, India Pining” was taken up
  • Celebrating Diversity and Composite Cultures – We conclude this year with Celebrating Diversity and Composite Cultures with the help of an eye opener Audio Visual “The DNA Journey”
  • Valedictory Programme – On 4th April, 2018 Certificates of completion of the CMCA’s Campus and Community Yuva – Life Skills Programme 2017-18 were awarded to all the students of the S.Y.B.Com. class of the college

Plans for the next year …
In the new academic year of 2018-19, the college is moving forward and participating in the CMCA’s Campus Yuva Citizenship and Life Skill Education Program. The Campus program is an intensive six month course on Active Citizenship introduced in colleges to inculcate in the students the knowledge of rights, obligations, societal values, constitution and leadership roles. The sessions are interactive and experiential which encourage students to express their thoughts on various issues and opportunities for community participation. This process of delivery not only imparts civic education but also develops critical skills for active citizenship.

The CMCA announces a WORKSHOP series for college students. Young people are concerned about their future, their career and life. CMCA workshops empower students with values and skills which are important in everyday life and for any work place. CMCA programmes instil life skills like empathy, critical thinking, team work, communication, confidence and more. CMCA students learn to work in a team, focus on solutions, live with differences, are gender sensitive and value different opinions. These programmes are an innovation – transforming in education for democracy into a more empowering and democratic learning process for young people in India.

Why should a college opt for the Campus Yuva Citizenship and Life Skills Education Programme Workshops?

A National Urban Baseline survey on Democratic Citizenship values and attitudes of youth in urban India called Yuva Nagrik Meter 2015 was conducted. The respondents were students, college-educated and coming from cities. The findings are alarming and rather than reaping a demographic dividend we could be looking at a demographic disaster. Few findings from the survey:

  • Is young India ready to preserve and cherish our democracy?
    Answer – The national score on democracy among young people in urban India stand at 21%
    Source – www.cmcaindia.org/yuva-nagarik-meter
  • Gender Equality – 39% girls and 43% of boys “agreed” that women have no choice but to accept a certain degree of violence
  • 51% boys and girls “agreed” that the main role of women is to take care of the household and bring up children
  • Diversity – 65% of college students favour prohibition of meeting between boys and girls belonging to different religions in public places
  • Democratic Governance – 74% of High School and college students do not know that the Legislature is responsible for enacting laws
  • Social Justice – 49% college students “agreed” that people who work as domestic help cannot demand minimum wages and other facilities
  • Adherence to Law – 43% “agreed” that it is alright to violate rules because one can always get away with bribing officials

There is a Supreme Court Judgement (Hon’ble Shri Ranganath Mishra vs. Union of India and Others) which obligates the State to educate the citizens in the matter of Fundamental Duties so that a right balance between Rights and Duties may emerge. In this context, a Fundamental Duties Course is mandated by the Supreme Court at the under-graduate level. In the few colleges which do run the course, students do not relate to the course as it is highly theoretical and does not speak to their lived realities.

Workshops are interactive and appropriate for engaging in themes such as Diversity and Social Justice; Equality and Gender; Composite Culture; Social Scientific Temper; Harmony with Nature and Compassion for Living Creatures; Freedom of Expression and Personal Liberties.

When the students participate willingly and are brave to express their thoughts freely they will become agencies of CHANGE and the programme is sure to achieve its objective.

4th April 2018
Dr. Padma Rangan (Principal) and Dr. Lata Krishnan (Teacher Co-ordinator)

The CMCA Nagrik Life Skills Program for the year 2017-18 has been concluded. I take this opportunity to thank both of you and the staff for the constant support extended. It has enabled us to reach out to the students who will spread the message of CMCA. We hope our presence has made a difference in their attitude towards civic and other relevant issues. We had 16 sessions throughout the year and covered the importance of being active and responsible citizens.

First Term:
Sessions were conducted for 2 combined divisions of Second year Commerce students. We began with Introduction to CMCA and the findings of YUVA Nagrik Meter Survey readings. With Democratic Citizenship Values of 21%, the need for raising awareness among the youth of India was brought out. This is the first time CMCA curriculum was being implemented in the College.

“The Right Move” movie was relayed in the subsequent session with the follow up on Urban Local Governance. Students were familiarized with the help line numbers of BMC, its different departments and other agencies.

The signature campaign (with more than 200 signatures) for Eco-Friendly Ganesha was initiated by two students at the college level and resulted in the installation of an eco-friendly Ganesha in the computer lab of the college this year.

Students attended the CMCA event “Inspiration” on 9th August, 2017.

World Democracy Day (Campaign) and Club Launch was celebrated on 14th September, 2017 where in students participated in a skit highlighting the 4 C’s and the use of help-line numbers.

Second Term:
For this term we were given combined sessions so as to do justice to the subsequent 3 sections in the College Curriculum. Understanding the key words in the Preamble of our Constitution as well as a peep into the Preambles of few other countries was covered. Challenges that pose Indian Democracy (Caste System) were made to understand with the help of an interesting “Bindi” activity. Also reservation viewed as Affirmative actions by few countries were discussed.

Being informed about the much less known Fundamental Duties makes the College Curriculum special. Apart from respecting our Constitution and practicing Fundamental Rights, CMCA Yuvalays emphasis on developing Social Scientific Temper through yet another interesting activity. This section is very relevant and helps in building Critical Thinking Skills in the youth.

We conclude this year with Celebrating Diversity and Composite Cultures with the help of an eye opener Audio Visual “The DNA Journey”.

A special thanks to Dr. Padma Rangan who has now made MES College a pioneer partner with the CMCA Yuva program and to Dr. Lata Krishnan for facilitating every session.

We welcome any feedback from your side, which can help us make it an even more enriching experience for the students. Once again we thank you for all the support given to Team CMCA and look forward to the continuance of this mutually empowering association.

Kanha Shanti Vanam Trip, Hyderabad

47 students along with 3 faculty members namely Asst. Prof. Harsh Shukla, Asst. Prof. Anaya Markandeya and Asst. Prof. Tushar Pawar of Mahatma Night Degree College of Arts & Commerce boarded Hussain Sagar Express on 6th December, 2017. Next day we de-boarded the train at Vikarabad Station from where we took the bus for Kanha Shanti Vanam. After reaching Kanha Shanti Vanam students were allotted their room. After lunch students were given general instructions about the programme and they sat for their first meditation session. Mr. Sridhar Thoda, Mrs. Seema Tripathi from Heartfullness Institute were the instructors for the program and Dr. Nivedita Shreyans from Pillai Institute of Management Studies and research, accompanied us in the Kanha Shantivana. Dr. Nivedita Shreyans introduced the importance of meditation as a way of life to students to enhance survival skills in this competitive world. Because of the efforts of our instructor and Dr. Nivedita Sreyans, in the evening students got an opportunity to meet with spiritual guru Daji. Students asked many questions to Daji and he resolved all the queries on mediation. One of the question asked in the question answer session that how to control thoughts during mediation, spiritual guru Daji said that we need not to pay any attention to any thoughts, we just need to relax and thus slowly thoughts will disappear.

On next day all the students along with faculty assembled at meditation hall at 6 a.m. in the morning. After 45 minutes of meditation, students went to nursery. In the nursery students were given general information about the various plants and they helped in re-planting small plants from small plastic bags to bigger ones. Breakfast was arranged in the same place. Later on students went for bath and followed by their lunch in the canteen area. The evening session was a brainstorming one where students were given more information about mediation and its benefit. In the evening session, students share their personal family problems and they were assured that they can benefit if they continue meditation for a long time. After the session students spent some leisure time around the campus and then went for dinner. The next day same routine was followed and in the evening Vineet Ranawat sir showed us the entire Kanha Shantivanam campus. Kanha Shativanam spread into 1100 acres of land and has an enormously large infrastructure. It’s a heaven for meditators. This place is full of meditators from Indian and abroad. The last day of the programme saw great enthusiasm from students about the various meditation sessions they have attended so far and they all seemed very happy about the way the programme was conducted and the benefits they have received from it. Some of the students shared their experiences. They said that the feel very relax and light. They were feeling inner peace which was hard to find in the city life. Further, they promised that they will continue meditation in Mumbai as well. On 11th December, we went for sightseeing at Hyderabad wherein we visited Golconda Fort, Charminar and Hussain Sagar Lake. In the evening we caught Mumbai Mail from Hyderabad station for coming back to Mumbai.


International Day of Yoga

Mahatma Night Degree College of Arts and Commerce celebrated the International Day of Yoga on 21st June, 2017 in the college campus. Mrs. Shilpa Ghone, Senior Teacher of Kaivalyadham, Mumbai was the Chief Guest of the event.

Students of the Mahatma Night Junior and the Degree college students all assembled at 7.00 p.m. in the ground floor multipurpose hall where Principal Dr. Padma Rangan along with the Chief Guest inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp. The invocation song was sung by Naina Vishwakarma of T.Y.B.Com.

Principal Dr. Padma Rangan introduced the Chief Guest Mrs. Shilpa Ghone as the Senior Teacher of Kaivalyadham, Mumbai. Kaivalyadham is a 100 year old institution with its main centre in Lonavala and branches across the country. An M.Sc. in Yoga Mrs. Shilpa Ghone has several diploma and certificate courses in yoga to her credit. She spearheads several workshops in Kaivalyadham such as concentration, memory and emotional intelligence; stress management; Life style disorder management; meditation and its techniques; pregnancy, pre and post natal; health management; yoga education teaching method. Mrs. Shilpa Ghone conducts yoga classes for police personnel to help them cope with the stress involved in their job.

In her speech Mrs. Shilpa Ghone explained with power point slides the importance of yoga for a healthy happy life. She started her session by explaining the importance and relationship of the body, the mind and the spirit. With illustrations she emphasised the need of building a healthy mind in healthy body. She elaborated on the importance of yoga in our day to day life. The students participated in a few yogasanas like parvatasan, simple breathing exercises, meditation, vrikshasan and neck exercises.

The workshop was well received by all the students and teachers as they listened to her in pin drop silence. Her speech motivated the participants and stimulated them to practice yoga on a daily basis.

Principal Dr. Padma Rangan, thanked the Chief Guest Mrs. Shilpa Ghone for sharing her valuable time with the students and enlightening them with knowledge and importance of yoga for a happy and healthy life.

Dr. Lata Krishnan, coordinator of the programme concluded the session by thanking all who participated in the programme. She reassured the Chief Guest that the yoga sessions will continue as they are included in the time table of the college. The CYP – Common Yoga Protocol programme – Yoga for Harmony and Peace designed by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopath, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) is adopted by the University of Mumbai to be practiced by the students and teachers of the Mumbai University. Dr. Lata Krishnan thanked Principal Dr. Padma Rangan and the Management for adopting Yoga as an integral part of the college programme.

The programme ended with the national anthem and students dispersed.