Get crash course on civic sense SoBo colleges spread awareness

Get crash course on civic sense

SoBo colleges spread awareness

If south Mumbai looks clean, green and beautiful, the credit primarily goes to its proactive citizens' groups. They fight tooth and nail to ensure their rights of open spaces, clean roads, water, sewage and other facilities. Now, they want the youth to take their agenda forward. The Nariman Point-Churchgate Citizens' Association (NPCCA) launched a short-term course on civic awareness and responsibility for students in south Mumbai colleges. With a batch of 50 from three law colleges, the first-of-its-kind course in India, starts on Saturday at KC Law College. The three-month course is being offered for free. Emphasising on the civic needs of south Mumbai, it will include both theory and field work. Classes will be held on weekends and holidays. NGO Global Vision India Foundation has also been roped in for this initiative. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust will bear the educational cost. NPCCA member BN Makhija said, "We wanted a course that would make youngsters responsible and aware of civic issues as well." The curriculum has been designed by NPCCA residents and activists in consultation with the KC Law College. According to principal Ashok Yende, this includes knowledge of constitutional rights, citizens' duties, sections of the IPC, RTI Act, Consumer Protection Act , Environment Act, Fisheries Act, Noise Pollution Rules, Water Act, Shore Nuisance Act, etc. The course will also show students how to file an FIR, a PIL, preserve the rights of women, work with the BMC for garbage disposal, repair roads, clean water, make areas hawker- and noise-free,etc . Field work involves working with NGOs, organising awareness programmes, street plays, etc. Noted activists are to address students as guest lecturers. Talks with other colleges to start this course are also on. Industrialist and head of NGO Priyadarshni Academy Nanik Rupani was given the task of streamlining the initiative. Welcoming the move, RTI activist Bhaskar Prabhu said: "We have 227 corporators in the city each with an average of 2.25 sq km to look after. If we get that many activists, the city is bound to improve a lot. However, it is yet to be seen how effective is course really is." He suggested that the course include social audits.