Eco-Express – An Outreach-cum-Extension Programme

Department: Economics in association with NSS, The BES College
Date: 10th July 2024
No. of participants: 23 semester 4 students from the Department of Economics, 5 NSS volunteers, 6 faculty members, 20 school children from Panch Darshiya Vidyalaya, Kolkata and 3 members of HUM, an NGO

On 10th July 2024, the Department of Economics, in association with the National Service Scheme (NSS) of The Bhawanipur Education Society College (BESC), organized an extension-cum-outreach program to the Howrah Rail Museum, Howrah.

Railways have always played an important role in the economic growth and development of India. The importance of railways in India’s development planning can be understood from the fact that since before independence, a Railway Budget has been presented separately a few days ahead of the Union Budget. Though this practice was discontinued since the 2017-18 Union Budget, Indian Railways continue to play a crucial role in shaping the economy of our country. It is, therefore, necessary that not just a student of Economics, but the present generation is made aware of the history and role of railways in India. With this objective in mind 28 students from the college and 20 children from the Panch Darshiya Vidyalaya, run by the NGO – Humanities for U & Me (HUM) visited the Railway Museum in July.

The journey for the BESC students and faculty started at 10 am from the college campus. At Park Circus the group was joined by the 20 school children aged between 5 to 10. The children were accompanied by the members of HUM, making the bus journey to the museum lively and engaging. The group arrived at the Howrah Rail Museum by 11:00 a.m., where the day kicked off with an enthusiastic introductory session. The students from BESC were paired with individual children from the NGO to guide them through the museum.

The primary objective was to provide an enjoyable and interactive educational experience that sparked curiosity about the history and operations of the Indian Railways and broadened the children’s knowledge and appreciation for the same. The museum features old locomotives, vintage carriages, and artifacts showcasing the evolution of Indian Railways. There are photographs depicting the transition from steam engines to electric engines and from small coaches to AC coaches. The exhibits also include old railway uniforms, models of railway track, track changing levers, metro rail, and a life-like replica of the Howrah Railway Station. The “Howrah Station” model also offered a toy train ride around the museum. While waiting for the toy train ride, an interactive session ensued where each child introduced themselves, shared their favourite activities, and showcased their talents. The day concluded with a delightful lunch at the rail coach-turned-restaurant within the museum. The program ended with a group picture in front of a vintage locomotive.

The outreach program was a resounding success, enriching the lives of the children from the HUM organisation and instilling a sense of social responsibility in the students of Bhawanipur College. Special thanks were extended to the management of Howrah Rail Museum and NGO HUM by Mr Nawaid Khan was presented with a token of appreciation from BESC for their support and cooperation.

Prepared by:
Priyanka Bardia and Muskan Pardhi
Department of Economics
Semester IV