Institutional Distinctiveness
Empowerment isn't about dominance. It's about making space for others to rise alongside you
As outlined in our vision statement, this institution views education as a powerful tool not just for our students, but for the broader local community. In line with the philosophy of integrating scientific research with entrepreneurial spirit, inspired by the eminent Indian scientist and visionary entrepreneur Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, our college has always prioritized equipping students with the necessary innovative skills to become both job seekers and job creators—key contributors to an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
In support of this vision, the institution has, over the past few years, focused on two primary objectives:
- Encouraging entrepreneurial spirit within the student community.
- Promoting economic empowerment and sustainability initiatives among the local population, particularly through our neighbourhood sisters.
To nurture entrepreneurship, the college has established an incubation cell aimed at enabling students and the local community, especially women, to embrace entrepreneurship through innovation as a means of economic and social advancement.
Methodology Adopted
To foster a culture of innovation, the following key strategies have been implemented:
A) Selection of Thrust Areas
Projects were chosen based on the following criteria, considering the demographic profile of our female students and local women:
No requirement for expensive training or high setup costs.
Suitability to the semi-rural setting of the college and the target consumer group.
Integration of environmental sustainability into the project mindset.
B) Creating a Learning Environment for Intellectual and Entrepreneurial Skill Development
(i) Seminars/Webinars on Intellectual Property Rights:
Participants learned about key regulations concerning patents, copyrights, trademarks, registration processes, licenses, designs, and geographical indicators, and how these might affect their business ventures. To date, the college has organized two webinars and one seminar on Intellectual Property Rights.
(ii)Seminar on Entrepreneurship Opportunities in the Digital Sector:
Students explored career opportunities in the rapidly growing e-commerce industry, which has opened up numerous business avenues in the online mode.
(iii)Seminar on “Women-Centric Sustainable Development: Microfinance:
Participants learned how microfinance initiatives can empower women by providing the financial resources and support needed to start and sustain their own businesses.
(iv) Short-Term Courses with Self-Employment Potential:
Two-week training program on food processing and preservation (11.09.2019–26.09.2019).
ADD-ON course on ornamental fish production and management, and organic waste management—specifically for college students.
One-day State Level Seminar on “Millets: The Future Superfood” (5th April 2022).
Training on mushroom cultivation, held both in college premises and local villages (23.08.2022, 24.09.2022, 22.02.2023).
Certificate Course on Apparel Designing (Basic), Fabric Painting, and Artistic Jewellery Making (40 hours, 12.06.2023–19.06.2023) for local women and students.
C) Infrastructural Support: Encouraging New Ideas and Providing Guidance
Training is only effective if participants can witness firsthand the benefits of the skills acquired. To give them a real sense of the entrepreneurial journey, the incubation cell has initiated several projects. In each case, the college provides the basic infrastructure and initial seed money, challenging students to make these ventures self-sustaining and eventually profitable. Participants are involved in every step, from surveying and procuring raw materials to processing, marketing, and bookkeeping, as they embark on their entrepreneurial journey.
Types of Activities
Type I: Exhibition cum Sale of Processed/Fast Food Targeted at Specific Consumer Groups
Based on knowledge gained from workshops, students organized sales/exhibitions featuring items such as:
Millets for health-conscious consumers.
Perishable items requiring preservation.
Fast food items for large gatherings on short notice.
In each case, students made a profit after covering initial expenses, which were then reinvested in the program.
Type II: Employment through Sustainability Initiatives
(i)Manufacture and Sale of “Bio-Shakti” Vermicompost:
As a natural progression from the bio-digester plant set up for solid waste management, a vermicompost generation unit was established to complete the nutrient cycle. The incubation cell decided to monetize this initiative by marketing the product under the name “Bio-Shakti.” This project demonstrated how a simple backyard initiative could be replicated and monetized while raising local awareness on ecological issues, such as effective solid waste management and the replacement of harmful chemical fertilizers with organic ones.
(ii)Mushroom Cultivation:
Mushroom cultivation has the potential to provide an excellent source of secondary income for women in rural households. With minimal space and investment requirements, it offers cheap nutrition and promotes sustainability by utilizing agricultural waste products (like straw or sawdust) as substrates. A trial initiative generated revenue of Rs. 750 on an initial investment of Rs. 295 for a single crop. Following extensive training for local women, free spawns were distributed, and the college is expanding the initiative with the help of its students.
Type III: Exhibition cum Sale of Handicraft-Based Items
After completing a certificate course, students were asked to create products based on their training, tailored to the demands of their clientele—specifically, the students and staff of the college. An "Exhibition-cum-Sale" program featuring products made during this workshop was a resounding success, with all items sold out. The trainees received a profit share based on the cost of their materials.
Future Projects
The college is exploring potential projects such as fish spawn cultivation, ornamental fish farming, and aquarium design.
Given the demographic profile of our students, who are predominantly first-generation learners, it is crucial to engage not only with our students but also with their families to achieve our broader goal of creating an egalitarian society. Economic empowerment of both students and their support systems is a key tool in this regard. The focus on empowering women is particularly important due to the semi-rural location of the institution, which operates within a traditionally patriarchal socio-economic environment. From its inception, our institution has been committed to fostering empowerment through education, guided by our college motto of “Service, Knowledge, Sacrifice.” In alignment with this ethos, Acharya Prafulla Chandra College has made a concerted effort to promote financial empowerment of the rural women in our locality.
यत्रनायाततुपूज्यन्तेरमन्तेतत्रदेवताः।
यत्रैताततुनपूज्यन्तेिवााततत्राफलाःक्रियाः।।
मनुिंदिता --- ३ / ५६
As stated in the manusmriti
"Where women are honored, there the gods rejoice; where they are not honored, all actions are fruitless."