INTRODUCTION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
SDG 11 is one of the 17 global goals established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SDG 11 focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. In essence, it addresses the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and promotes the development of both environmentally sustainable and socially and economically vibrant cities. The goal encompasses various aspects of urban living, including access to essential services, affordable housing, efficient transportation, and improved urban planning. SDG 11 aims to create well-designed, environmentally friendly cities and equal opportunities for all residents, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds. By fostering sustainable urban development, SDG 11 contributes to the overall well-being of both current and future generations while working towards a more equitable and resilient global society. They collectively emphasize the need to create cities that prioritize the well-being of their inhabitants, promote sustainability, and contribute to a more equitable and resilient global future.
Given the above goals, Nitte (DU) has aligned itself to cater to these goals; in this report, we put together some of the activities done towards achieving the said goals.
Initiatives towards outreach to the community Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of Nitte Rural Health Center - IRAThe foundation stone laying ceremony for the rural health center at Bavabeedu, Ira village, in Bantwal taluk will be held at 10 am on Tuesday. Nitte (Deemed to be University) has 21 rural health centers spread across four districts and is serving more than 2 lakh rural patients annually. The center at Ira village will be the 22nd health center in villages having facilities for outpatient, inpatient, laboratory services, delivery, emergency treatment, and immunization. This center is being built as per National Medical Council (NMC) guidelines with state of art facilities to provide preventive and curative health care for Ira and neighboring villages through the Community Department of K S Hegde Medical Academy.
An information center of Justices K.S. Hegde Charitable Hospital, Mangalore, was started at Government Employees’ Bhawan, Siddhapura town. The Retired Employees Association has been associated with K.S. Hegde Hospital, Mangalore, for six to seven years. Healthcare facilities under the hospital protection have conducted many camps in the taluk. This center was started to provide adequate and more information to the patients going to the hospital there. The public is given information about the availability of hospital doctors, and information about health insurance schemes will also be provided. At the same time, a health card was also issued.
Solar Power - Need of the Hour! “Let us use solar energy to the maximum extent. It is non-toxic and does not pollute the air. The big advantage is it reduces the use of fossil fuels. Solar energy is a God-given gift,” opined Dr. Chetan S. Solanki, Professor from IIT, Bombay, brand ambassador of Solar energy, Government of Madhya Pradesh and popularly known as ‘Solar Man of India’. He brought his ‘Energy Swaraj’ Yatra Bus to the campus of NITTE Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru to demonstrate the technical infrastructure for the usage of solar energy to the gathering of the student community. Further, he added that it is the need of the hour to switch to 100% solar energy to reduce the emission of Carbon dioxide. Prof. N.R. Shetty, Chancellor, Central University of Karnataka presided over the function. He stressed the need to improve technology for the proper use of non-conventional energy sources like wind energy, bio-energy, and tidal energy. Rohit Punja, Administrator, NITTE Education Trust, Dr. H.C. Nagaraj, Principal, NMIT, Dr. V. Sridhar, Dean (Academics), NMIT, Professors and Heads of Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Electrical & Electronics Engineering Dr. Sudheer Reddy, Dr. Bharathi Ganesh and Dr. Vasudha Hegde were also present on the occasion.
Sustainable development goal 11 of Nitte (DU) conducted a public outreach program on 24/11/2022 in association with Lions Club Ashoknagar Mangalore.
Around 40-50 members of the Lions Club and the public attended the program
Prof (Dr), Arvind Karikal from the Oral & Maxillofacial department and Mrs Kusuma U Rao, President of the Lions Club, hosted and moderated the event.
After a brief introduction of the activities of the club and the purpose of hosting the event, the welcome address was given by Dr Smitha Hegde, a member of the SDG unit and deputy director of NUCSER. She spoke on the need to conserve the environment and promote such public awareness programs.
Prof Arvind Karikal welcomed the chief guest, Mrs Seetha Gowda. Currently holds the post of joint director of agriculture for Dakshina Kannada district and the next speaker Mr Praveen Kumar from the department of Horticulture. They have served the district for more than eight years. They have successfully implemented several schemes for needy farmers and the public.
The 1st speaker and chief guest then spoke about the need to conserve the ecosystem by conserving water and soil. However, water conservation plays an essential role in farming and urban development. Little work has gone towards soil preservation and balance. She stresses the importance of soil management and the ill effects of not acting in time.
The second speaker Mr Praveen K spoke on the various ways of developing an urban garden and its benefits. He also highlighted the multiple efforts and schemes by the Govt to help people to start and maintain the same.
The relevance of building a terrace or urban garden to improve the landscape and promote a sense of well-being was highlighted.
Finally, the form was open for discussion, and the general questions from the audience were answered satisfactorily. The members appreciated the program, and many showed their keen interest in having more such programs in the future.
The program ended with a vote of thanks by Ar. Tejendar from NIA and a felicitation ceremony. The chief guest, speakers, and hosts were felicitated. The event was concluded with high tea and refreshments.
The NSS Unit of NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences organized Vanamahotsava to observe NSS Day on 24th September 2022 at the college campus. Principal Prof. Dr. CS Shastry inaugurated the program. Planting a sapling, he explained the importance of the day and motivated the staff &
The NSS unit of Dr. NSAM PU College celebrated World Environment Day on 5th June 2022 at the college premises. Addressing the gathering, Principal Dr. Naveen Shetty K said that a good environment is necessary to stay fit and healthy. However, due to rampant air, water & soil pollution, our environment has degraded to a large extent. World Environment Day is celebrated to create awareness about this situation and encourage everyone to take the necessary steps to protect our environment. He mentioned that keeping the college building and its surroundings clean, should be the first step toward this. He urged the students to make a conscious effort to throw waste into the dustbin, discourage littering, and ensure that the campus is clean. Later the NSS volunteers engaged in cleaning the campus. A few saplings were planted by the Principal and staff members.
A session on ‘Marine Turtles: The Life Around the Sea’ under the “Sustainable Development Goals” initiative of the University
Under the framework of the United Nations “Sustainable Development Goals”, Nitte University has been putting conspicuous efforts towards sustainable development through teaching, research, outreach, and partnerships. In this context, NUCSER, in collaboration with the Youth Red Cross (YRC) Unit of the university, conducted a session on ‘Marine Turtles: The Life Around the Sea’ as a part of the activities under SDG14-Life below water, one of the 17 goals outlined by the UN, on 28th June 2022 at the University Auditorium, Paneer campus.
Mr. PV Sudheer Kumar, Secretary of Naithal, an NGO working towards the conservation of marine turtles at Nileshwaram, Kasaragod, Kerala for the last 23 years, was the resource person of the event. Mr. Sudheer Kumar spoke on different species of turtles found in various parts of the world and apprised the audience about the lifecycle of marine turtles. He explained the paramount effort of their organization towards the conservation of marine life.
The talk was preceded by a formal inaugural function. Dy. Director Prof. (Dr.) Smitha Hegde welcomed the gathering and Dr. Madhu K. Mani, Member Secretary of YRC Unit introduced the resource person of the program. Mrs. Latha S, YRC Co-ordinator of Nitte (DU) was present as the Guest of Honour. Prof. Dr. Anirban Chakraborty, Director of NUCSER presided over the function and delivered the presidential address. Ms. Jipsa Ann Philip, Student Vice-Chairman, of YRC Unit proposed the vote of thanks.
It was a great learning experience for the students of NUCSER as the topic was quite different from what they usually learn on a day-to-day basis. The event saw enthusiastic participation both by students and staff of the college.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering, NMAMIT organized a one-day workshop on ‘New and Renewable Sources of Energy’ on the occasion of the inauguration of the ‘Renewable Energy Club’ of the department on 22nd August 2022. Dr. Nagesh, Chairperson & Professor, Industrial & Production Engineering, UBDT Davangere, and Dr. Sathyabhama Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, NITK Surathkal were the guests of honour for the function. Dr. Nagesh stressed the significance of education in one’s life. Education/knowledge is the only wealth that gets increased upon sharing. Dr. Sathyabhama stressed the importance of the need for renewable energy, against conventional sources. Dr. I R Mithanthaya, Vice Principal & Dean (Academics) NMAMIT inaugurated the Renewable Energy Club and congratulated the department and student members for starting the club which is the need of the hour. Dr. Niranjan, Principal, NMAMIT in his presidential remarks referred that renewable sources of energy like solar and wind energy are always available in nature, free of cost. We just need to work on the mechanism of converting it from one form to another depending on our requirements. Dr. Srinivasa Pai P, Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering welcomed the gathering and briefed about the workshop. Dr.Rashmi P Shetty introduced the guests of honour. Dr. A K Somayaji, Program Convener delivered the vote of thanks. Dr. Ajith Hebbale, Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering was the master of the ceremony.
The NSS Unit of NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences organized “Swachhta Pakhwada” as a part of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava” on 13th August 2022. The program was inaugurated at the college campus by Prof. Dr. C. S. Shastry, Principal, NGSMIPS. In his inaugural speech, Dr. Shastry explained the need to carry out continuous cleanliness awareness drive in order to make people conscious of sanitation and hygiene and mitigate environmental pollution to facilitate healthy living. He asked all the participants to carry out swachhata abhiyaan on a regular basis and also spread the awareness to as many people as possible. Dr. Santanu Saha, NSS Program Officer along with teaching and non-teaching staff joined the NSS volunteers to clean the campus and surrounding areas. At the end of the cleaning program, the collected waste was segregated and disposed of appropriately.
In continuation of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, an idol of Goddess Saraswati was installed at Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy and unveiled on 15th February 2022 by Prof (Dr) Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, Vice Chancellor, Nitte DU. Vaastu Pooja, Gana Homa, and Mahasaraswati Pooja were also performed as a part of the ceremony. Prof (Dr) Shantharam Shetty, Mr. Vishal Hegde, Pro-Chancellors, Prof (Dr) M S Moodithaya, Pro- Vice Chancellor; Prof (Dr) Alka Kulkarni, Registrar, C A Vinutha J Shetty, Director Finance; Heads of Institutes and Heads of Departments graced the occasion. In addition to the ceremonies at the Institute, food was also served to the residents of Abhaya Ashraya, Assaigoli.
The All-India National Integration Camp was organized by the National Service Scheme Cell, Govt. of India from 14th to 20th March 2022 at SDM College, Mangalore. Two volunteers from NUCSER, Shruthi Ravi Kotian, II BSc, and Robinson M, I BSc, represented Nitte University.
The camp was held for 7 days and various activities including cultural exchange programs, singing and spot dance competitions, serving food, reducing food wastage, cleaning the campsite, maintaining health & hygiene, and preparing eco-friendly crafts were conducted. Yoga sessions and flag-hoisting ceremony were among the routine activities. The campers rendered their service through Shramadana at a government school and were enlightened with many educational seminars throughout the week. In the evenings, cultural programs were delivered by the campers to entertain their fellow campers as well as the people in and around the locality. On the sixth day, the campers made their journey to the Regional Science Centre, the Heritage Villa, and the Biological Park at Pillikula. They lit diyas depicting the shape of the map of India and sang patriotic songs in the evening. The one-week National Integration Camp concluded on the seventh day with the valedictory function.
NSS volunteers from Nitte Dr. Shankar Adyanthaya Memorial First Grade College decked the walls of Government Higher Primary School at Nandalike with “warli” art during their annual NSS camp held recently.
The walls of the school building, with their new look, were a center of attraction for the onlookers. With the help of Nandalike Gram Panchayat, work on the warli art on the walls of the school building was taken up by more than 10 students, 10 students, under the direction of college student Pramod V Acharya. Pramod V Acharya said, “The painting of warli art gave us an opportunity to showcase our talent.” Anusha, an NSS officer, said, “The NSS camp gave an opportunity for students to showcase their talent. The students, besides initiating a cleanliness drive, were also painting walls with warli art. The GP has supported the students in their activity”
The NSS unit of A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences conducted a guest lecture titled “Yoga: Traditional way of Life - Past, Present and Future” by Dr. Arun Thejaus, Asst. Professor & In Charge, Centre for Integrative Medicine & Research on the occasion of the International Yoga Day 2022 at Avishkar. The program began with a prayer to invoke the Almighty by Ms. Pavithra Nair. Dr. Kumuda Rao NSS Program Officer was the Master of Ceremony. Dr. Renita Castelino introduced the Chief Guest Col. BS Ghivari (Retd), Assistant Director (Student Affairs), and Nitte (DU). He spoke on the significance of Yoga in daily life. Prof. (Dr.) MS Ravi, Head, Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics addressed the gathering. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Avaneendra Talwar. The program was attended by I and II BDS students and faculty members.
The NSS Unit of Dr. NSAM PU College organized the 8th International Yoga Day at the College campus on 21st June 2022. Chief guest and Resource Person Smt. Priyanka Kaneria, Yoga Teacher, Shri Pathanjali Yoga Shikshana Samithi, Mangaluru addressed the gathering and explained all the benefits of Yoga, and showed some Yoga Mudras to the students. Principal Dr. Naveen Shetty K gave an introductory speech about the Yoga Day celebration. He opined that yoga is commonly understood as a therapy or exercise system for health & fitness, while physical & mental health are natural consequences of Yoga. He further said that the practice of Yoga on a regular basis is ideal to improve the quality of life. The NSS volunteers, NSS program officers participated, staff, and students participated in the event under the guidance of Smt. Priyanka Kaneria.
Navarathri Pooja was held in the school with great devotion on 26th September 2022. The event began with a Ganahoma, followed by Sharada Pooja, Vahana Pooja, and Aayudha Pooja led by the Principal Mrs. Shreelatha Rao. Students along with teachers and members of the PTA sang bhajans. Sweets were distributed on the occasion.
A Program on Water Conservation under the SDG Initiatives of the University
Under the Sustainable Development Goals initiative of the University, Nitte University Centre for Science Education & Research conducted a program on “Water conservation and Irrigation practices for the farmers” at Rotary Convention Hall, Kinnigoli on 27th September 2022 in association with the Department of Horticulture, Mangaluru, and the Rotary Club Kinnigoli. Mr. Shree Padre, Editor, Adike Patrike was the resource person. Farmers, school children, postgraduate students, teaching & non-teaching staff of NUCSER attended the program.
Mr. Devidas Shetty, President, Rotary Club welcomed the gathering and gave the opening remarks. The President of the Nitte Institution Innovation Council, Prof. Dr. G. Srinikethan inaugurated the program. Prof. Dr. Anirban Chakraborty, Director, NUCSER explained the importance of the sustainable development program and the initiatives of Nitte University. The guest speaker was welcomed by Prof. Dr. Smitha Hegde, Dy. Director, NUCSER, and was felicitated by Nitte University in association with the Rotary Club. The CEO of Pattana Panchayat, Kinnigoli, Mr. Sayeesh Chowta mentioned the severe water problems faced by the local farmers due to the failure of wells resulting from groundwater depletion. He acknowledged the gesture of the organizers for conducting the program at Kinnigoli.
Mr. Shree Padre highlighted the importance of water in every sector of the community. He focused his talk on the process and the technologies of rainwater harvesting. Students and participants raised certain questions which were answered by the resource person. Mr. K Praveen, Sr. Assistant Director of Horticulture explained the government schemes available for irrigation. Dr. Akhila D.S, Asst. Professor NUCSER coordinated the program and proposed the vote of thanks.
The Teacher`s Day celebration was held on 5th September 2022 at Dr. NSAM Pre University College, Mangaluru to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The celebration began with students presenting roses to the teachers as a token of love and respect.
Principal, Dr. Naveen Shetty K presided over the function. Addressing the gathering, he said that teachers hold a responsible position and are capable of shaping the future of the students. They facilitate the all-round development of students. He rightly pointed out that the first teachers in our life are our parents followed by teachers who act as a link between the school and the students. He advised the teachers to imbibe the great qualities of Dr. Radhakrishnan and execute their duties well.
Floral tributes were offered to Dr. Radhakrishnan’s portrait on this occasion. Various games were organized by the students for the teachers. The celebration concluded with a thank you note delivered by the student representative Ms. Disha.
The entire program was coordinated by the Student Council representatives Ms. Pranitha and Ms. Nilima Bhaktha.
On behalf of the Department of Kannada and Culture, Government of Karnataka, Nitte Engineering College organized a program of singing 6 Kannada songs on October 28 from 11 am to 11:30 am as part of the 67th Karnataka Rajyotsava campaign. Under the leadership of the institution’s stereo club, six songs, Jaya Bharata Janani Tanujate, Udayawagali Namma Cheluva Kannada Nadu, Barisu Kannada Dindimava, Khatchevu Kannada Deepa, Vishwavinootana Vidyachetana and If Janidu Kannada Nadali were sung by the teachers, non-teaching faculty students sang total 3000 people participated.
The NSS Unit of NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in association with the constituent colleges of NitteDU in Paneer campus organized “Koti Kanta Gaayana” as per the directions of the District Administration to celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava on 28th October 2022 at NGSMIPS campus.
The program started with a welcome speech by Ms. Suchithra, NSS Program Officer of Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences (NUINS). The students, NSS volunteers, members of the teaching & non-teaching staff of NUINS, NUCSER, and NGSMIPS recited Kannada songs “Hachhaevu Kannada Da Deepa” and “Huttidare Kannada Naadalli Huttabeku.”
Mr. Tapaswi H M, NSS program officer of Nitte Institute of Communication, guided the gathering to take oath for a Subhadhra, Sampadbharitha Karnataka Rajya. Ms. Rama Adiga, NSS Program Officer of NUCSER proposed the vote of thanks.
A Workshop on the Untold Story of Veera Rani Abbakka, one of coastal Karnataka’s earliest freedom fightersNitte Institute of Communication in association with Ullal Veera Rani Abbakka Samiti conducted a Workshop on the Untold Story of Veera Rani Abbakka, one of coastal Karnataka’s earliest freedom fighters on 27th November 2022 at the Institute premises. Sri. K Jayaram Shetty, former MLA, inaugurated the session, and Sri. Dinakar Ullal, President Veera Rani Abbakka Utsava Samiti, delivered the keynote address. Rani Abbakka was unarguably one of the earliest freedom fighters in this region and her bravery should not go unremembered, said Jayaram Shetty in his inaugural address. History has recorded how she gathered her army, which consisted of people from all castes and communities, and repulsed the Portuguese time and again. Ullal, which was her capital and also a flourishing port, was the hub of the spice trade to Arabia. Being a profitable trading center, the Portuguese, Dutch, and British vied with one another for control of the region as well as the trade routes. They were not able to make much headway as the resistance from the local chieftains was very strong.
The environment in which students study inspires them to expand their productivity as it plays a vital role in letting them focus on their tasks and studies. This is why many prestigious universities and colleges are located at quaint destinations, not just in India but globally. As the campus becomes a mecca of learning for students right from the time they step in, the campus environment must be away from the city hustle-bustle to give a peaceful environment for students to grow.
Mangalore is one such peaceful location where students come from far and wide to make a difference in their lives. But how does a conducive learning environment help? How does it help students grow? Let’s address some of the prime questions.
A quaint and peaceful environment leads to a classroom that encourages interaction. When educators put thought-provoking subjects in front of the students, it will encourage students to think and share their points of view with no distractions. These discussions and debates encourage creativity and critical thinking, allowing students to express themselves. Usually, when students want to hone a concept or delve deep into a subject, they go to the library but imagine studying at an institution where the environment is so peaceful that the entire campus environment becomes conducive to learning just like a library. You can sit in any corner and study without any distractions. Isn’t that amazing?
Why do students prefer studying in Mangalore?Mangalore has always attracted plenty of students across the country and is a city that is a hub for various aspirants who desire to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, certification, or diploma courses. In addition, the town has the Nitte Group, which runs numerous educational institutions in multiple disciplines.
Today, the number of students who study at Mangalore has shot up as the Karnataka Government is investing heavily in education. Mangalore is a cosmopolitan city as students from across the country study here. Students study in Mangalore because the colleges here have the least student agitations, college closures, exam postponement, or other political disruptions.
Thus, Mangalore is a region where people from various communities and neighbouring states come and settle down for their businesses, jobs, children’s education, etc. As a result, the city is progressive in culture.
Nitte (Deemed to be University), is one of the most popular private Universities in Mangalore and has its roots in a group of Institutions established by the Nitte Education Trust. The Trust was founded in 1979 by Late Justice KS Hegde, Judge of the Supreme Court Judge and Speaker of Lok Sabha. Nitte now has 43 institutions spread across three campuses at Nitte, Mangalore, and Bangalore. The institutions impart education in diverse areas of learning, including health sciences, engineering, management, general education, humanities, vocational training, and school/preuniversity education.
Nitte imparts 130 programs specialized in engineering, medicine, allied health sciences, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, biological sciences, speech & audiology, media & communication, architecture, management, hotel management, tourism & hospitality studies, etc. It encompasses 20000+ students and 4500+ faculty on its campuses.
Some of the Awards and Recognitions of Nitte that make it a prime hub of learning for new-age students are:
Students generally look for factors like placements, rankings, and faculty while shortlisting colleges, however, it is equally important that they consider the environment of the town where they would be studying before deciding on the college.
Road Safety Awareness - NUCSEREvery year road accidents result in the loss of lakhs of lives and serious injuries to crores of people. In India, approximately 80000 people are killed in road crashes every year due to a lack of road safety awareness, which is about 13% of the total such fatalities all over the world.
As part of the ongoing road safety awareness month, the NSS wing of NUCSER organized an online “Road Safety Awareness” program on the 3rd of February 2022.
Prof. Dr. Anirban Chakraborty, Director, NUCSER, welcomed the guests and the resource person of the event. Prof. Dr. Alka Kulkarni, Registrar, Nitte DU who was the chief guest of the program, emphasized the importance of implementation of traffic regulations and the impact of loss of an earning member of the family due to road accidents. She further reiterated that this awareness is most important for the younger generation of the society, the students, and appealed to all, to not only understand but also implement the good practices while riding a bike or driving a car.
Mr. Gurudath Kamath, Police Inspector (Traffic), Mangalore South was the resource person who delivered an informative talk on ‘Amendments to the Motor Act’ and highlighted the stringent measures that are in place for serious offenses committed by motorists. He also spoke about the “Good Samaritan” clause in the Indian Motor Act and informed the audience on how the common man can help people in distress in the event of an accident and how the legal hassles are bypassed for such people who come forward and help save lives.
As a part of the program, a Road Safety Slogan Competition was organized by the institute and the winners were felicitated during the program. The slogan, “THE CONTROL ON ACCELERATOR GIVES CONTROL ON LIFE” by Sneha R of 1st MSc Biotechnology was adjudicated the best slogan by the judges. The slogans, “ACCIDENT BRINGS TEARS SAFETY BRINGS CHEERS” by Leonna Saldanha of 1st MSc Food Safety & Biotechnology and “ROAD SAFETY IS A STATE OF MIND, ACCIDENT IS AN ABSENCE OF MIND” by Radhika S 1st MSc Food Safety & Biotechnology were jointly given the second-best slogan award.