Outreach Activities
Centre for Agroecology and Public Health in association with international and national collaborators, arising from a wide spectrum of stakeholders, envisages to popularise action learning and research in Kerala, by acting as a knowledge hub. Centre adopts bottom up participatory approach, in which action research projects and programmes are formulated and implemented with the participation of students, farmers, marginal communities and other stakeholders and aims to make visible impact in the lives, and kindles social transformation in the society.
Social audit of PDS
A team consisting of students and teachers from the University participated in the social audit process of PDS in Kerala. During the process, programs were organised to create awareness among priority households. Gramsabha meetings were convened to address issues raised by beneficiary households. The social audit was done with the involvement of various stakeholders, including the LSG officials and government officials at Civil Supplies Department, ration shop dealers and beneficiaries. This helped in improving the transparency and accountability of the system. Also this outreach activity in turn created social awareness among the students and contributed to enhancing food security.
Impact evaluation of Integrated Tribal Development Projects in Aralam and Poothady tribal areas
The interventions undertaken by NABARD towards the upliftment of the deprived tribal population through field visits, beneficiary interaction, and Focus Group discussion in Aralam and Poothady were done as part of the project. The project helped in assessing the impact of WADI model developed by NABARD on the quality of life of beneficiaries. As a part of the projects research team from the Centre participated in various activities at both tribal settlements and involved in strengthening the grassroot level institutions and empowering them.
Kaithangu: Social Intervention in Palliative Care
Field participation and survey of Pain and Palliative Care services were conducted in the project. The Kerala Model of Palliative Care was documented by looking into the contributions of three-tier Local Self Government Institutions- Primary, Community, and Tertiary Health Centres with the participation of students from the University. Students from the University of Kerala were trained to work in home-based palliative care units; the financial, physical, and emotional needs of patients were addressed by this social intervention activities.
Social Audit: Nedumangad Block Panchayat
Centre for Agroecology and Public Health associates with Block Panchayat, Nedumangad to conduct village extension activities, particularly, interventions in agriculture and health sector. As a first step, nine students from University of Kerala acted as joint conveners for the social auditing program conducted by Block Panchayat to assess its initiatives since 2015. In addition, Centre is documenting the welfare schemes conducted by the Panchayat as a part of SAMRUDI initiative.
Participation in Developmental initiatives of Block Panchayat
Students from Department of Economics participated in developmental initiatives of Nedumangad Block Panchayat under the project SAMRUDI. Activities included awareness creation programmes, field visits, participation in farming activities, coordination of groups, documentation and research activities.
Kaithangu: Pain and Palliative Care Action Research
As part of social intervention initiative, students along with teachers participated in activities of pain and palliative care units in the vicinity of University of Kerala. The program instilled action learning capabilities in students by providing an opportunity to work with nurses and volunteers from Pain and Palliative Care units in providing medical and psycho social support to palliative patients. Based on the experiential learning four reports were published and training programs were conducted for students and palliative care volunteers.
