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Social Internship
[Community Engagement and Social Responsibility]
24 UCI 203

Weekly Report
By
Pro VC Academic Affairs Office

Issued by: Pro VC Academic Affairs Office

Guidelines for: Students [3rd Semester]
Version: 2
Revised on: May,2024

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Social Internship Report

27th May – 2nd June 2024

University School of Business (USB)

Submitted by: Submitted to:

Name:Sudipta Bhowmik Name of the Social Internship Coordinator
UID:23BCS12694 Department Name:CSE
Section: Institute Name:
Program:BE-CSE(Social Internship) Chandigarh University

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Certificate / Letter by the Gram Pradhan/

Sarpanch/ Mukhiya [duly signed and stamp]

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Acknowledgement

We would like to sincerely thank the following people and organizations for their
significant assistance with this study on rural livelihoods . The citizens of Gaurangachak,
Aknageria's Uttarbard, We appreciate your willingness to divulge information about your
personal lives and means of support. Your observations are crucial for comprehending the
difficulties and possibilities that rural communities confront. We value your help in making
the survey process easier and putting us in touch with the locals. Your help was essential to
making sure the survey was effective and that a representative sample of the community .

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Index
S.No Chapter Page Page
required No.
1 Introduction 1-2 6

2 Review of Literature 1 7

3 Methodology 1 8

4 Day wise Activities List 1-2 9

5 Daily Diary Summary 2 10

6 Profile of Study Area 3-4 11

7 Addressing Various Socio-Economic 1-2 12

Challenges
8 Local Governance and Decentralization at 1-2 13
village
9 Government's efforts towards Holistic Rural 2-3 14
Development and Promoting Inclusive
Growth.
10 Findings 1-2 15

11 Suggestions & Recommendation 1-3 16

12 Conclusion 1 17

13 References 1 18

14 Photo Evidence 1-3 19-20

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Introduction

An internship that focuses on social issues and community service is known as a social internship. It
enables you to support a cause you care about while gaining experience in the nonprofit or social
welfare sectors. Below is a summary of the salient features:Social Focus: The internship's main goal
is to further social justice. This could entail supporting social justice causes, tackling social
injustices, fostering environmental sustainability, or engaging with marginalized populations. Social
internships have a variety of objectives, depending on the specific program and your own goals. Here
are some of the common objectives ;Develop Skills: Gain practical experience in social work,
community development, or non-profit management. This can include skills like communication,
research, project management, and working with diverse populations.Build a Resume: Get valuable
experience in the social sector, making you a more competitive candidate for future jobs or graduate
programs.Explore Career Interests: Test the waters of a social work or non-profit career path to see if
it aligns with your interests and values.Develop Empathy and Social Awareness: Gain firsthand
experience with social issues and the challenges faced by different communities. This can foster
empathy and a deeper understanding of social problems.Network and Make Connections: Meet
professionals in the social sector and build relationships that could be helpful in your future career

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Review of literature
A positive evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of a sustainable livelihoods approach is
provided in this book. The suggested expansion of the methodology expands upon a agricultural and
development studies have a political economy tradition. Encouraging the impoverished to have
sustainable livelihoods involves more than just acknowledging their extraordinary aptitude for
subsistence, which includes nesting, scaling walls, and diversifying sources of income.home
locations within fruitful networks, while simultaneously reducing their susceptibility to land grabs,
natural calamities like droughts and floods, corporate greed, and shady politics. —Simon Batterbury,
University of Melbourne

This book is incredibly significant. It ought to become legendary. Every development professional
has to have it. This work presents an expert examination and synopsis of the development and
aspects of the sustainable livelihoods approach, exploring uncharted ground in the fields of political
economy, political ecology, and livelihood politics. This book is a fantastic addition to development
thinking and practice because it is concise but thorough, combines and draws from the perspectives
of many disciplines, is approachable by all readers, is professionally done, and is original in its
analysis and extension into new fields. I hope it receives a lot of reading and influence.
—Robert Chambers, University of Sussex, Institute of Development Studies

Ian Scoones has created a book that strikes the ideal balance between being incredibly helpful and
demanding; theoretically astute and incredibly readable; historically knowledgeable and forward-
thinking, offering suggestions for professional and scholarly goals. It puts livelihood thinking in
context, examines its applications, explains its limitations, and—perhaps most importantly of all—
persuades the reader that being political and practical are absolutely not mutually exclusive options
in development, whether writing about it or working within it. Students and practitioners will find it
invaluable. —Anthony Bebbington, idpm, University of Manchester; Graduate School of Geography,
Clark University

Ian Scoones presents a compelling case for putting back into the forefront of contemporary
discussions about eradicating rural poverty and inequality an expansive perspective on livelihoods
informed by the political economy of agrarian change in this unusually thorough, lucid, and valuable
review of concepts of sustainable livelihoods and their applications.
—Henry Bernstein, University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies

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Methodology
A rural internship's approach can change based on the objectives and particular program. But as a
general framework, take this into account:
• Pre-departure training: This could include seminars or online courses on subjects including
health and safety in rural areas, research methodologies (if relevant), cultural sensitivity, and
rural development.
• Needs assessment: To determine the precise needs of the community and the most effective
way to use the intern's talents, the internship program or host organization may carry out a
needs assessment.
• Establishing expectations: Expectations, duties, and obligations should be communicated in a
clear and concise manner to the intern, the program provider, and the host organization.
• Examining the body of research: Become knowledgeable about pertinent studies on rural
livelihoods, issues, and possible solutions in the area.
• Interviews: Holding organized or semi-organized interviews with stakeholders, farmers, local
authorities, and members of the community. Surveys: Conducting surveys to collect
numerical data on the community's challenges, livelihoods, and demographics.

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Day Wise Activities List

S.No Day Date Act Brief Description Objective of Outcome of

ivi ofActivity / Activity / Activity / visit
ty visit visit
Na
m
e
th
1. 1 27 may To survey That was my first day Deep Get a social
farming in . I surveyed for rural understand experience on rural
rural area . farming .I found that rural farmimg . side area .
may villagers farmed
in this summer and
they gave survey to
me .
2. 2 28th may To survey On my second day, I Deep Get a deep
rural roads . went to survey rural communication understand of rural
roads. Though rural of rural roads. roads and linked
roads are not well roads with higheway .
developed ,I survey
also .
3. 3 29th may To survey On my third day , I Deep Find how rural area
rural went for survey rural understand of or farmers provide
irrigation irrigation system . I rural irrigation crops for city area .
system . found a problem that system .
there has one
irrigation system for
many fields .
th
4. 4 30 may To survey On my fourth day, I To understand Rural education
rural surveyd for rural of rural system develops their
education education system and education education like as city
system . found that rural system . area .
tuition.
5. 5 31th may To survey On my fifth day , I To survey and Understandable
rural health went for survey rural deep patients and hospitals
care system health care system . I understand of situations before vs
, caring for found rural health rural health after .
rural care system being care system and
patients . develop now . situations of
patients .

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Daily Diary Summary

Week 1 :

My name is Sudipta Bhowmik ,UID – 23BCS12694 . I am from chandigarh university .I

experienced a great experience only for my university . I have done one by one activity as per
guidelines . I have done five activities such as rural farming , irrigation system, roads area , health
care system, education system etc . rural area are those areas where geographic region located
outside of towns and cities . I have done one by one activity as per my university policies . on my
first day , I have done suvey for rural farming ,second day I surveyed for rural roads ,third day I
surveyd for rural irrigation system , fourth day I have done rural education system . I found a thing
that the development of rural area is not well now . Government takes many steps to develop rural
area . For this rural area develops better than before . I surveyed many areas in rural side and ask for
survey . I faced many barrios one of them is there has language barrior as I am from west Bengal so
many of villagers don’t know the hindi language so I faced language barrior .

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Profile of Study Area [Village information]

Village Profile:

• Village Name: Uttarbard , Aknageria , Gaurangachak

• Location: ( West Medinipur )
• Population: (Approximate 1000 )
• Demographics: (gender ratio with 968 females for every 1,000 males.)
• Livelihoods: (many people held business ,many helds private shops and many does farmimg
in their oen field . )
• Infrastructure: (Panchayat Raj System: The three-tiered Panchayati Raj system, which is
well-established in West Bengal, is in charge of rural development programs. When it comes
to organizing and carrying out infrastructure projects, this framework is essential.
Electrification: Rural electrification has advanced significantly, with many communities now
having access to electricity. In order to power residences, companies, and vital services, this
is required.
Road System: Villages are now connected to towns and marketplaces by a growing road
system in rural areas. But there are differences in the quality of roads, particularly in smaller
villages.
Irrigation Projects: In order to enhance water management for agriculture, a crucial source of
income in rural regions, West Bengal has implemented irrigation projects.)
• Social Services: (Infrastructure in rural areas and social services are closely related. In rural
areas, a strong infrastructure is essential for providing social services in an efficient manner,
and a strong social service sector helps to build and maintain that infrastructure.)
• Challenges: (Geographic Dispersion: It might be challenging and time-consuming to contact
every citizen of rural communities because they are frequently geographically distant.
Restricted Transportation: In remote regions, there may not be as many public transportation
choices. As a result, researchers may need to organize participant transportation or rely on
their own automobiles.
Weather: Severe weather, such as intense downpours or extremely high temperatures, might
cause fieldwork and survey schedules to be disrupted.)

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Addressing Various Socio-Economic

Challenges

In rural West Bengal, development and well-being are impeded by several socioeconomic problems,
notwithstanding notable advancements in recent times. Here's a summary of some important points:

• Money Inequality and Poverty:

Low Livelihood Options: Agriculture is the main source of income for many rural
households, but it is plagued by issues such as erratic weather patterns, dispersed
landholdings, and restricted access to irrigation and contemporary farming methods.

Limited Employment Opportunities: Due to the lack of non-agricultural jobs, many people
are forced to relocate for work or remain underemployed, which causes family separation.
Debt Burden: Families may become impoverished if they have a lot of debt from things like
agricultural failures or unexpected medical expenses.

• Restricted Entry to Essential Services:

Inadequate Infrastructure: It is dangerous for one's health and reduces productivity to have
poor access to sanitary facilities, clean water, and electricity.

Poor Quality Education: In rural areas, educational progress may be hampered by a shortage
of resources, a teacher shortage, and packed classes.

Inadequate Healthcare: Lack of doctors and distance from well-equipped medical facilities
can cause treatment delays and unfavorable health consequences.

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Local Governance and Decentralization

• Elected Official:
In many countries, rural areas have elected officials who oversee local government. These
titles can vary depending on the location:

Panchayat Member/Sarpanch (India): The Panchayati Raj system in India is a three-tiered

local government structure with village-level panchayats headed by a Sarpanch.

County Commissioner/Supervisor (USA): In the United States, counties are often

responsible for some aspects of rural governance. A County Commissioner or Supervisor
leads the county board.

Parish Councillor (UK): In the UK, some rural areas have parish councils led by a Parish
Councillor.

• Community Leader:

In some cases, a respected community member might act as a leader or advocate for the rural
area, without holding an official elected position.

• Historical Term:

"Governess" was sometimes used historically to refer to a woman responsible for the
education and upbringing of children, particularly in wealthier families. It's unlikely to be
used in a rural context today.

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Government's Efforts Towards Holistic Rural

Development and Promoting Inclusive
Growth.

Numerous administrations acknowledge the significance of rural development in attaining general

national prosperity and mitigating inequality. Below is a summary of several significant initiatives:
•
Enhancing the physical infrastructure of rural communities involves constructing and
maintaining electricity grids, roads, bridges, irrigation systems, and other infrastructure that
connects them to opportunities and markets.Digital connectivity: By giving rural residents
access to the internet and telecommunications services, we can close the digital gap, make e-
governance easier, and provide access to online markets, healthcare, and education.Social
infrastructure: To improve the health, education, and general well-being of rural inhabitants,
investments in clean water sources, schools, healthcare facilities, and sanitation facilities are
essential.

• Modernizing agriculture can increase income and production by providing farmers with
access to financing, subsidies, better crops, fertilizers, and irrigation methods.
Encouraging diversification into rural industries including food processing, handicrafts,
tourism, and small companies can lead to the creation of new jobs and the promotion of non-
farm livelihoods.Programs for skill development: Rural kids can become more employable if
they are given vocational skills that are relevant to the requirements of the community and the
labor market.

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Findings
• The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is one initiative that aims to increase
rural connectivity.Social welfare programs: MGNREGA and Krishak Swasthya Sathi are two
examples of initiatives that offer job opportunities and health insurance.
Programs for empowerment: Initiatives such as Kanyashree Prakalpa encourage girls to
pursue higher education and postpone marriage.
• Regional Disparities: The situation can vary significantly across different districts in West
Bengal.
• Need for Continued Efforts: Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged approach,
including investment in infrastructure, skill development, women's empowerment, and social
safety nets.
• Visit the websites of the West Bengal government agencies in charge of panchayats and rural
development.Look for scholarly publications or studies on West Bengal's rural development
or particular issues.

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Suggestions & Recommendation

Here are some ideas on how to expand on your recommendations for a West Bengal rural
region survey:
• focal Area: Choose a particular facet of the primary focal area of your internship (such
as healthcare, education, or agriculture) to investigate in further detail through your
survey.
• Community Requirements: Consider the requirements and difficulties you have seen
while completing your internship. Is there a specific problem that a survey could assist
solve?
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): West Bengal is probably attempting to meet
the UN SDGs, much like many other regions. Choose an SDG (such as SDG 2: Zero
Hunger for agriculture or SDG 4: Quality Education for education access)
• Governmental Programs: Look into any current government programs that are
relevant to the topic of your internship. Your survey might evaluate their efficacy or
point up areas in need of development.

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Conclusion

Reliable district-level estimates of the prevalence of poverty in West Bengal's rural districts were
produced by combining data from the Population Census and the Household Consumer Expenditure
Survey, both conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).The study produced accurate
and representative district-level poverty estimates using the small area estimation (SAE) approach.
The findings show differences in the prevalence of poverty across West Bengal districts, which can
be helpful for strategic planning and policy . The workforce participation rates (WPRs) of men and
women in West Bengal varies significantly, especially in rural areas.

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References

❖ https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/ruraldevelopment.
❖ https://www.ids.ac.uk/publications/sustainable-rural-livelihoods-practical-concepts-for-the-
21st-century/.
❖ https://www.cysd.org/our-strategy/.

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Photo Evidences
❖ Rural Farming

❖ Irrigation system

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❖ Health care system in rural area

❖ Education system

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