Students at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad give thumbs up to the course on 'Poverty', offered as an elective to second year students. The course 'Good Governance and People living in Poverty', taught by human rights and peace worker Harsh Mander has witnessed an increase in number of students opting for the elective in past three years. In last three years, the number increased from 62 to 74 now.
The course is unique in terms of its design as it attempts to use instruments of critical empathy to understand the conditions of India's most socially disadvantaged groups: Dalits, women, the urban homeless and street children, religious minorities, and people living with hunger.
As part of the course, Mander also exposes students to impact of public policy on changing their conditions, its strengths and failures.
Sharing details on the same, professor Errol D'Souza, Director, IIMA said, "The course on Poverty by Harsh Mander is doing very well. We can see more and more students taking up the course."
A student requesting anonymity said, "The course is extremely relevant to the present times where our country is and how countries are dealing with poverty globally. I took up this elective after my seniors shared how this course gave them an in-depth understanding of the situation of gender discrimination, minorities, urban homeless, Dalits and how the public policy impacts their lives."
Voicing his concern about a need of such a course in educational institutions, sociologist and professor Gaurang Jani said, "The understanding of society is becoming very important these days. In last five years, interest has developed not just in educational institutions but outside also and we can see more young people participating in such discussions. Hence, such courses are very important, not just for social science students but everyone. Speaking about my own experience of teaching at CEPT university, NID and others places, when I discuss about attrocities on Dalits, students take immense interest. The present younger generation is more open about LGBT rights, poverty, societal issues and due to such courses, inclusiveness will increase."
The students are being taught by detailed case studies of some specific socially excluded groups and the impact of public policy on their lives. It also critically examines different ideas about the role of the state, of alternate economic and social policies, and of rights based legislations.
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The students are being taught through case studies of specific socially excluded groups and the impact of public policy on their lives. It critically examines ideas about the state’s role, of alternate economic and social policies, and of rights based legislations
