About Extension Activities
Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, popularly known as JVBI, is devoted to the promotion of teaching, research & extension — including voluntary action, research projects, training and documentation in the overall domain of Human Development and Character Building. It was established in the year 1991 as an autonomous Institute Deemed to be University.
Directorate of Extension
Extension activities of a University provide a link between the University and the community. Extension has always been an integral part of JVB University — the origin of JVBI itself speaks about it, although formally, as a department, it is a new-born baby.
Before the inception of Jain Vishva Bharati University in 1991, the village was deprived of all basic amenities, let alone literacy. JVB started a number of programmes under the guidance of Holy Acharya Tulsi and the present Anushastha in the villages, which involved self-reliance through the Anuvrat Movement, medical relief, social and political awakening, and bringing girls out of their homes to provide them general education — which in itself was a stupendous task.
Since getting the status of Deemed to be University in 1991, JVB has been continuously working with the aim of extension and community welfare through its various curricular and extra-curricular work. Using different techniques such as dialogues, folk media, recreational activities, interactive and participatory programmes, group working and group discussion, we continuously try to create awareness among the masses about their rights, access to information, exploitation, discrimination and employment opportunities. Our education, research and extension are based upon basic human values, helping individuals, families and the community as a whole to lead a successful life. Presently we have 168 students through NIOS in five adjoining villages of Ladnun.
The activities of the Directorate of Extension are geared to promote women's education, the open-learning system, non-formal education, NIOS activities, and programmes for women's development through training, research, consultancy and documentation. It is currently active in gender sensitization as a part of its extension activities.
Informal Education Centre
The Informal Education Centre has been in existence since the inception of JVB University, carrying out the work of education and training of rural women. The development of villages has always been integral to the vision and mission of JVBI.
Women from the surrounding villages of JVB University — e.g. Khanpur, Bader, Gunpalia, Shimla, Chhapara, Dujar, Sehariyawaas, Magrawaas, Balsamand, Shyampura and Bakaliya — receive free training here. Its aim is to ensure that women become self-sufficient. From time to time, exhibitions displaying articles made by these women are arranged to encourage them; these exhibitions lead to economic gain as well as encouragement for the women.
Training given to women at the Informal Education Centre
- Making them literate by teaching them to read and write.
- Giving them general knowledge about spirituality, moral values and courtesy.
- Stitching, embroidery and operating the sewing machine.
- Papad making and application of mehandi.
- Painting, card-making, and making bags, wall hangings, slippers, purses, etc.
- Making rakhi, pickles and spices.
- Computer training.
Jain Vishva Bharati has able teachers in all these areas who train the women, and sometimes trainers are also called from outside. Although this is a small effort, many women have transformed their lives through it — they are able to work from home and become economically independent.
We endeavour to expand the activities of the Informal Education Centre in the future so that more and more women can benefit from it and become economically self-reliant.
In collaboration with the Department of Social Work, the faculty and students have provided relief services to people affected by natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Relief teams from the University served the 2001 earthquake-affected people of Gujarat (Bhuj and Anjar areas), the 2006 flood-affected people of Barmer in Rajasthan, and the 2008 floods in Bihar.
The students of the Department of Social Work regularly work to generate awareness among people in the surrounding areas of the University — in the fields of HIV/AIDS, Health and Sanitation, Legal Literacy, Population Control, Women Empowerment and Vocational Training. Some of this work has been carried out with the active involvement of the Block / Tehsil Administration as a change agent.
Glimpses of Extension Activities
