Ms. Kavita Sahay, Director-School Operations and Academics, VIBGYOR High Group of Schools
Your views on CSR and Sustainability
Social responsibility is a duty every individual should undertake to maintain a balance between the economy and the ecosystems. The aim should be to bring sustainable development in the society by creating eco-systems which will have minimum administrative expenses, but have maximum impact. Collaboration is the mantra to achieve a sustainable impact. So projects can be undertaken in collaboration with the Government, Corporate, NGOs or individuals. Today, with the increasing awareness, CSR is widely embraced and practised by various organisations. The organisations have started taking into consideration the ways their operations impact societies and the natural environment.
Activities carried on by you on this front
Being an educationalist, I have been inclined towards children and their welfare. I have always been associated with NGOs, largely related to underprivileged children, children with special needs and victims of social ills. Apart from monetary support these children need empathy, attention and mentoring, which is what I have always focused on.
It pains me to see some children bereft of opportunities to receive quality education due to financial constraints; and so I do what I can by sponsoring the education of such unfortunate children.
Given my affinity for animals, I always make it a point to contribute towards their well-being by working closely with animal shelters. Besides contributing towards maintaining a steady supply of food and medicines at these shelters, I also support restorations of dilapidated shelters.
Activities carried on by your Institute on this front
As an institute, we have always focused on holistic educational programme and have incorporated social responsibility as part of the curriculum and also in post-school activities.
To create social awareness the children are taken on field trips to Blind Schools, old-age homes and orphanages that helps them realise that there are lesser fortunate people around. We take forward this awareness through clubs like Student Social Responsibility Cell that organises activities like Bal-Gurukulswherein our students undertake the ‘each one teach one’ programme; they work on empowerment of underprivileged women by educating them on aspects of health, hygiene, financial independence and other important aspects.
Similarly, as part of the curriculum, the students are sensitised on the environment by organising visits to botanical gardens, nature parks and are exposed to the ill effects of environment degradation. Through VIBGYOR High Nature Clubthe students further undertake activities that include going on Nature trails, making a compost pit, kitchen gardening, spreading awareness through street plays, making posters and various others.
Your views on Student volunteering
With a large chunk of India’s population being young, there is a need to nurture this talent right from the schooling stage.I believe participating in CSR develops various skills and qualities within students such as empathy, accountability, leadership, etc. It encourages students to develop virtues such as respect, compassion, justice, humility, and understand their social and moral responsibility towards humanity. If they start early during their school days, they will imbibe the culture of contributing for the betterment of their society, for life time.
Why should students study CSR
Education is preparation of life. Encouraging students to participate in social activities will groom them into responsible citizens of future.
Most of the boards today have made it mandatory for schools to undertake various activities for students, involving them in socially active assignments. For eg., initiatives such as SUPW (Socially Useful Productive Work), laid by CISCE, aims to encourage community thinking in students, enabling them to solve day-to-day problems of the society.
Moreover, various International Universities attribute importance to the community service work done by students. Participation in social activities reflects positively on the students’ CV when they apply for admissions to such Universities.