Rural Living And Learning Experience Fair Organised At Xavier University

Rural Living And Learning Experience Fair Organised At Xavier University

With the primary objective of -“Working at the Grassroots,” the Xavier School of Rural Management organised their annual rural fair “Rural Living and Learning Experience Mela” (RLLE) on Thursday.

In this fair, the future rural managers of Xavier School of Rural Management showcased the learning which they had gained during their stay at various parts of the country. Through the ‘Rural Living and Learning Experience’ programme, they gained exposure to the real rural business environment and insights into the applications of their Rural Management course.

The exhibits at the mela comprised the specialties of the places where the students had been to, including artefacts, clothing, unique ornaments, eateries, their experience of rural culture, means of support, governance and business during their 45-day stay at rural areas representing different cultures. Around 91 students had participated in the programme held between November 26 and January 14. The students visited Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and various remote places in Odisha to gain an on-field experience of the rural livelihood. “I learned a lot of things and it was a completely new experience. I have resolved to work for the development of the rural sector,” said Deepak Kumar, a first year student.

Another participant Dravid Fernando described his experience by saying, “If one asks for peace, I would suggest first mother’s lap, second deep sea diving and third Auroville! My experience has been life changing.”At the mela, a live performance was put up by the students and the script was based on the theme “Let’s Make India Open-Defecation Free” which replicated the issues that rural areas encounter and need to overcome to prevent the spreading of diseases due to open defecation.

The Xavier University is associated with twenty organisations all over India such as Tata Trust, Manjari Sansthan Nainwa, Society for Rural Integrated and Youth Association – SRIYA, Mahatma Gandhi Integrated Development and Educational Institute, among others. The overall experience has been designed to help the students get a closer look into the rural life, which will eventually help in calculating the scope of rural managers.