Institutional Distinctiveness
Institutional Distinctiveness
Women Empowerment through Education
Kalipada GhoshTarai Mahavidyalaya Bagdogra, located in the Darjeeling District, was established on November 21, 1988. As one of the oldest institutions in the rural part of the Siliguri sub-division of Darjeeling District, it serves predominantly students from farming or daily-wage working families, as well as tea garden laborers. From its inception, the college has been dedicated to empowering the underprivileged sections of society by imparting holistic quality education to rural people, particularly women, the poor, and tribal communities belonging to tea garden workers, Scheduled Castes, and backward communities. The college places a special focus on the educational upliftment of women students, recognizing their vital role in society. Girls in this area often marry early due to socio-economic challenges, lack of education, and limited access to higher education. Dominated by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe populations, the college aims to provide accessible quality education to these communities. It strives to lead first-generation learners towards capacity building through higher education, enabling students to secure jobs, become self-employed, achieve self-reliance, promote gender sensitization, and imbue social and human values.
Campus Safety and Facilities
- The college campus ensures the safety of girl students with amenities such as:
- 24/7 CCTV surveillance
- Guarded high-walled campus
- An Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) to ensure zero tolerance for sexual harassment
- An Anti-Ragging Committee to prevent incidents of ragging
Vision
The college envisions its graduates, particularly women, taking on leadership roles and achieving self-reliance in society. It works within the nearby community to encourage girls to dream big and fulfill their aspirations through education.
Activities for Women Empowerment
The college believes in the holistic development of all students, especially women, recognizing their crucial role in society.
Legal Awareness for Women
The college organizes various programs on women’s legal rights through legal experts. It has signed an MoU with a knowledgeable advocate to address women’s issues in the northern belt. The college organizes legal awareness programs on issues such as:
- Women trafficking in the region
- The POCSO Act
- Domestic violence
- Early marriage of girls
- Sexual harassment
Women Cell
The Women Cell in the college aims to empower and orient women to recognize their true potential, fostering overall development in all spheres of their lives. The targeted group includes all girl students and women from the nearby community. The cell formulates action plans and policies for the development of girl students.
Main Objectives of the Women Cell
- To enhance self-esteem and self-confidence among women students
- To foster decision-making ability among women
- To increase awareness of women-related social issues, health, employment, and gender matters
- To provide a dignified and congenial academic environment for women students
Activities Undertaken
- Organizing programs on legal awareness regarding women's rights
- Workshops related to self-employment opportunities for girl students
- Encouraging group activities through events
Gender Equity
The college offers equal opportunities for everyone on campus, with no discrimination based on gender. It promotes gender equity by raising awareness about gender issues such as inequality and discrimination.
Participation in NSS & NCC
A significant number of girl students participate in NSS and NCC programs, taking leading roles in organizing social activities. Some notable participants include:
- Barnali Ghosh – SOA University Bhubaneswar (December 15-21, 2021)
- Preeti Sarkar – Birla Institute of Technology, Patna (February 25-March 3, 2023)
- Meeta Bala – Kaziranga University, Jorhat, Assam (June 9-14, 2023)
Cultural Activities:
Girl students excel in organizing and participating in cultural programs, festivals, and other functions. The college observes International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day, Bhanu Jayanti, Rabindra Jayanti, Christmas, and more. A team of students was awarded for preparing an Institutional Nepali Dictionary and Toponymy in 2022-23.
International Women’s Day
The college celebrates International Women’s Day annually, with active participation from both girls and boys. Seminars and awareness programs highlight women’s achievements and their readiness to break societal barriers.
Games and Sports
Girls actively participate in sports activities, with several excelling in competitions. Notable achievements include:
- Sweata Oraon – Inter-college District Sports and Game Championship (2022-23)
- Rima Kujur – Inter-college District Sports and Game Championship (2022-23)
- Nisha Sha – National International Championship (2022-23)
Peace Club
In collaboration with the West Bengal Voluntary Health Association, the college has formed a Peace Club, led by women students and a female teacher. They organize programs on the role of women in maintaining peace in the family and society, and stress management among youth.
Outreach Activities
The college has signed MoUs with local NGOs to collaborate on social responsibility programs and organize awareness activities on women’s issues.
Adoption of Villages
The NSS units have adopted Lalmon Village and Putimari Village under Gossainpur Gram Panchayat, addressing issues like drug abuse, early marriage, and school dropouts among girls.
Support Facilities through Scholarships
The “Kanyashree Scholarship,” a flagship scheme of the West Bengal government, supports girls’ education by providing a one-time scholarship of Rs 25,000 to female students who continue higher education and attain 18 years of age. The college provides institutional support to all beneficiaries.
Institutional Facilities
The college offers a Girls Common Room and has installed a Sanitary Pad Dispenser machine.
Admission and Performance of Girls Students
Over the past five years, there has been a gradual increase in the admission of female students. The final university examination results indicate better performance by female students compared to males. For example, pass percentages of female students were 64.47% (2018-19), 64.62% (2019-20), 62.85% (2020-21), 58.86% (2020-21 – CBCS System), and 67.08% (2022-23).
Student Progression
The percentage of female students progressing to higher education is higher than that of male students, with 61% of graduates pursuing further studies being female.
Outcome
- Girls feel safe within the premises.
- No incidents of sexual harassment have been reported.
- No incidents of ragging have occurred.
- Female students' completion rates outnumber those of males.
- Greater participation of female students in various social, cultural, and outreach activities.
- Female students are encouraged and motivated for higher education, as evidenced by their academic performance.
The empowerment of women through education is crucial for holistic development. Kalipada GhoshTarai Mahavidyalaya supports a multifaceted approach to women’s development, emphasizing academic excellence, personal and professional growth, critical thinking, participation in sports, cultural activities, extension activities, and social responsibility. The college’s initiatives and efforts are instrumental in empowering women and fostering a society of responsible citizens.