Human Rights and Social Development

Department of Human Rights and Social Development

Human Rights are fundamental to the progress of the human kind. Human development is inconceivable without adequate support for promotion and protection of human rights. In the Indian context, despite the constitutional safeguards most of the human rights, are subject to serious violations. The support systems available for the protection of human rights are not effective, largely due to the low human rights awareness among various sections of the society and the absence of a healthy human rights culture. An essential precondition for the success of any human rights support and protection system is the creation of a healthy human rights environment. The educational system has a pivotal role to play in the promotion such an environment. Educational institutions in general and the universities in particular, however, have not responded adequately to the task of promoting human rights education for various reasons.

It is in this context that the Sri Venkateswara University, established the Department of Human Rights and Social Development in December 1997, under the UGC Innovative Programme by upgrading the erstwhile Centre for Studies in Human and Social Development and launched P.G. Diploma in Human Rights and Social Development, with the following objectives :

i) Knowledge – providing information about human rights and the mechanisms that exist to protect those rights;
ii) Values, beliefs and attitudes – promoting a human rights culture through the development of these processes; and
iii) Action – encouraging people to defend human rights and prevent human rights abuses;
iv) To train the young men and women for facing the challenges of the pluralistic society and the rising conflicts and tensions in the name of particularistic loyalties to caste, religion, region and culture;
v) To study the effects of draconian laws and unlawful use of State’s machinery and force by the enforcement agencies;
vi) To necessitate human rights education to evolve strategies and schemes for tackling such attitudes like employing bonded labour, practicing untouchability, perpetrating sati and help members internalize more humane and egalitarian approach in their social relations.
vii) To create an environment as well as an understanding that human rights can easily become vulnerable to abuse of various structures and processes of power;
viii) To ensure comprehensiveness and incorporation of national, regional and international perspectives related to human rights;
ix) To work in close cooperation with National Human Rights Commission and other statutory Commissions on Women, Minorities, SC and ST and Linguistic Minorities, NGOs and Media Organizations for promoting Human Rights Education;
x) To collect data related to the existing educational and training facilities in the areas of human rights in different parts of the country in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular for designing a need based P.G. Diploma, Master’s and Doctoral Programmes in Human Rights.
xi) To provide formal training for students in human rights and social development at the P.G. Diploma, Post Graduate and Doctoral levels;
xii) To promote human rights literacy / awareness among general students community, teachers and law enforcers;
xiii) To undertake research into specific and sensitive human rights issues; and
xiv) To encourage concern or empathy for those who experience violation of their rights, by providing legal and other forms of counseling.

The Department has launched P.G. Diploma in Human Rights and Social Development in the year 1997. It has started M.A. P.G. Degree course in Human Rights and Duties in the academic year 2000-2001. The M. Phil and Ph.D. Research Programmes were introduced in the academic year 2006-2007. The Department had organized several regional and national seminars and conferences on the various themes of Human Rights. It has also organized several Guest lectures by inviting several eminent resource persons on the themes of Human Rights. The Department organized several essay and elocution competitions to school level to Ph.D. Scholars to sensitize Human Rights values among them in the eve of “International Human Rights Day” Celebrations every year on 10th December.

The Department under its extension activity adopted few villages and sensitizing rural people on the themes of human rights. Department has linkages with regional, national and international organizations.

About the Department


1. To impart quality education and training, to create and develop competent manpower of National Progress.
2. To devise curriculum that reflects the prescribed educational experiences, in terms of core and optional courses.
3. To train the students in the field-oriented research techniques for developing professional competencies.
4. To promote research and extension activities in the field.



CURRICULUM DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT


1. The syllabi is designed as per the requirements of UGC/UPSC/ APPSC/ NET/ APSET & ASI Examinations.
2. The Curriculum is updated keeping in view of the societal requirements and the latest disciplinary trends.
3. The Curriculum is also designed to cater the needs of the students and to meet both competitive and working skills.
4. The Syllabi is revised in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
5. CBCS Pattern with Semester system is followed.
6. Each Semester contains 24 credits and Total Credits 96. with Internal and External Electives
7. BoS constituted with the outside subject experts to design the curriculum keeping in view the latest developments in the discipline.
8. Students undertake field work, study tours and visits.

ACADEMIC FLEXIBILITY


1. The skill and value based courses designed to choose inter disciplinary, intra-disciplinary.
2. Gap year concept is followed. Readmission will be given to a student on genuine cases. The duration of the course will be 4 years.
3. Internal and external electives scheme is followed.


Curriculum Enrichment

1. The syllabi is updated as per the requirements of NHRC/UGC & NET Examinations.
2. The Curriculum is also designed to cater the needs of the students and to meet both competitive and working skills.
3. The Courses has been designed based on feedback from Alumni, Subject experts and Visiting Faculty.

Evaluation Process and Reforms

1. Evaluation through written tests, seminars, assignments.
2. The Internal and External evaluation as per the Academic Schedule.
3. Transparency and Redressal mechanism adopted.


Student Performance and Learning outcomes


1. Feed back on attributes at the end of the course.
2. Steps taken for enhancing soft and communication skills, personality development.
3. Students awarded Prathiba, Gold Medal and RGNF Awardes.
4. Students encouraged to participate in Sports and Games.
5. Steps taken to prevent students from Anti Ragging and Sexual Harassment by constituting Departmental Committees.

Promotion of Research


1. Orientation Programmes to the Young Scholars by the Retired Professors and Outside Experts.
2. Research Methodology Classes for M.Phil and Ph.D Scholars.
3. UGC/RGNF/ICHR/ICSSR Fellowships to the Research Programmes.
4. Established Department Research Committee.
5. Sabbatical leave availed by Faculty Member.


Research Facilities

1. Dissertations of M.Phil and Ph.D. Theses are available as ready reference.
2. To access up to date knowledge provided computers with internet facility.
3. Conducted Field works.


Collaborations

1. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi, India.
2. State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Hyderabad, India.
3. The Department of Human Rights Counseling Cell.
4. The Department started Human Rights Association (HRA), SV University, Tirupati.
5. Department Linked with different NGOs (MICDA, WINS, RISE, RASS PASS)


Physical Facilities :

Total area of the Department - 7544 Sq. ft.,
• Class Room [1] - 288 Sq.ft.
• Class Room [2] - 288 Sq.ft.
• Staff Room - 180 Sq.ft
• Office Room - 345 Sq.ft
• Faculty Room - 180 Sq.ft

Student Mentoring and Support

1. Motivating the Students by organizing Career Development Programme.
2. Established Committees for Guidance, Grievance redressal, Anti Ragging, Research & Skill Development.
3. Counseling the Students in Academic Enrichment & Employment.
4. Social Welfare Scholarships for SC/ST/BC Students from Govt. of A.P
5. UGC, RGNF, ICHR, ICSSR and Fellowships to the Ph.D & M.Phil Programme
6. Prathibha Purasakar Awards to the Meritorious Students by the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
7. P Jain Jewelers Gold Medal Award for the First Ranker
8. Guidance to the students for competitive exams/NET Exams etc.,

Student Participation and Activities.

1. Participated in Clean and Green Programme in every Month of first Saturday
2. Participated in Blood donation, Sports, Cultural Programmes and Youth Festivals.
3. Students contributed articles to College Magazines.
4. Participating Science Exhibition.

Innovations and Best Practices

1. Steps taken by the Department to Energy and Water.
2. Participating Clean and Green Programmes.
3. Wastage and trash will be dumped by taking away.
4. Field Work and Dissertation Work .
5. Encouraged students to participate in Conferences/Seminars.