Institutional Distinctiveness
Preservation of native bio-diversity and saving the environment for sustainable development
Environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and climate crisis are looming at large like the ‘Sword of Damocles’ on humanity in general. A higher learning center cannot shy away from these great dangers at any cost. Sarat Centenary College, despite its limited capacity, has joined the rest of society to combat the dangers of the climate crisis through various initiatives taken over the last five years.
Green Audit: The College has done regular internal green audits so that the preservation of biodiversity in the surroundings is maintained. With the collaboration of West Bengal State University, the College took the initiative for the Edaphic and Water criterion (Physical and Bio-Chemical) Evaluation of Sarat Centenary College. It was done with data generated by the environmental Bio-technological laboratory, at West Bengal State University. The green audit conducted by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) recently has expressed their satisfaction with our green initiatives.
Energy Audit: All the stakeholders of the Institution are very much conscious of energy saving. Erstwhile tube lights and bulbs are replaced with LED lights and thus saved power consumption to a considerable extent. AC is now almost necessary but the college encourages the stakeholders to use AC rationally. The College on its own initiative conducts energy audits every year. Recently a team from Jadavpur University conducted an energy audit of the College. The results are satisfactory and vindicate the college’s energy-saving initiatives.
NSS Activities: The three units of the NSS take initiatives to protect the native environment and inculcate a strong ecological sense in their volunteers. Organising seminars, webinars on environmental degradation, sapling plantations on the campus and in the adopted villages, making the local people aware of the dangers of using single-use plastics, etc. are the normal activities of the NSS. These activities are related to the preservation of the native environment.
Departmental Activities: The Department of Geography conducted fieldwork on disaster management in nearby locations. Though the fieldwork falls within the curricula, still the fieldwork itself as it was done on primary data, involvement of the local populace extends the fieldwork beyond academic paraphernalia. This fieldwork creates awareness among the local people concerning natural disasters like floods etc. which cause severe loss in biodiversity.
Protecting Native Environment: The College campus itself is rich with bio-diversity. A pond inside the campus is an example of a niche environment. The College took the initiative to renovate the pond recently so that the niche environment may be protected. There is an age-old tamarind (tamarinda indica) beside the pond. The college takes care to maintain the tree and its surroundings. The local people have a special sentiment for the tree which the college appreciates. It has become a part of the local heritage of which the college is proud of. Plenty of trees inside the college campus not only add to the beautification of the college, it also serves the purpose of environmental richness and examples of healthy bio-diversity. Nature adorns variety and Sarat Centenary College with its rich environmental niche adheres to the task of protecting the varieties of Nature.