In a bid to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world impact, Mohan Babu University’s School of Commerce and Management has been spearheading initiatives that bring students, faculty, and communities together for sustainable change. One such endeavour is the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project in Kotala, a semi-rural village in Tirupati district grappling with inadequate sanitation, water contamination, and low environmental awareness. Designed as a community-based effort running from October 2024 to May 2025, the project blends awareness creation, infrastructure improvement, and behavioural change, with active participation from students, NSS volunteers, local leadership, NGOs, and government departments.
In this interview, Dr. T. Madhavi (Dean In-Charge), Dr. P. Subramanyachary (Professor), and Mr. K. Bhargav (Assistant Professor) discuss the inspiration behind the initiative, its design, and the collaborative framework that made it effective. They share insights on engaging women, youth, and students, the experiential learning outcomes for participants, the methods used to measure impact, and the project’s scalability. Their account underscores Mohan Babu University’s commitment to fostering socially responsible graduates and creating sustainable community transformation through education.
Q&A
Q. What inspired the launch of the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project in Kotala, and how was the initiative designed?
A. The inspiration for launching the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project in Kotala stemmed from the evident need to address critical environmental and public health challenges faced by the village. Kotala and its surrounding villages, located in Chandragiri mandal of Tirupati district, have a population (3250) largely dependent on agriculture and daily-wage labour. Despite some infrastructure development, the village continued to struggle with inadequate sanitation facilities, water contamination issues, and limited awareness of sustainable practices. These conditions not only posed health risks but also hampered the overall quality of life and potential for eco-tourism.
Recognizing this gap, the School of Commerce and Management at Mohan Babu University initiated the project with the following key objectives:
- To promote environmental sustainability through practical interventions.
- To increase awareness among villagers about the importance of cleanliness, hygiene, and sustainable living via workshops and educational programs.
- To promote eco-friendly practices that could eventually help attract tourism.
- To directly improve sanitation infrastructure, such as waste disposal systems, and address water contamination in local tanks.
- The initiative was carefully designed as a community-based project carried out from October 24th, 2024, to May 31st, 2025.
Staff and students from the School of Commerce and Management actively engaged with the community, conducting surveys to understand local challenges, organizing workshops to educate residents on hygiene and eco-friendly practices, and implementing practical improvements in sanitation and water management facilities. This collaborative approach ensured that the project was not just an external intervention but a participatory effort, empowering villagers to maintain and further these improvements sustainably.Ultimately, the project sought to create lasting impact by combining infrastructure development with behaviour change, helping Kotala move towards a cleaner, greener, and healthier future.
Q. How did the collaboration between the university, NSS volunteers, and local leadership shape the implementation of the program?
A. The collaboration between Mohan Babu University, NSS volunteers, and the local leadership of Kotala Village was central to the success and practical implementation of the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project.
Firstly, the university provided academic guidance, planning, and resources, ensuring that the project was structured around clear objectives like sanitation improvement, environmental sustainability, and awareness building. Faculty members from the School of Commerce and Management designed surveys, workshops, and educational materials, making the program systematic and research-driven.
Secondly, NSS volunteers played a crucial operational role. They acted as the link between the university and the community, actively engaging with villagers, organizing cleanliness drives, door-to-door awareness campaigns, and interactive sessions on hygiene and eco-friendly practices. Their commitment ensured that the program activities were carried out smoothly on the ground.
Finally, the support of local leadership, including panchayat members and community elders, was instrumental in building trust and encouraging community participation. Their involvement helped in mobilizing local resources, identifying priority issues like water contamination, and motivating villagers to actively join workshops and implement suggested changes.
Together, this partnership created a balanced approach: academic knowledge and planning from the university, dedicated volunteer efforts from NSS students, and cultural understanding and authority from local leaders. This collaborative framework ensured the project was not just imposed from outside but truly integrated into the village’s social fabric, making the changes more practical, accepted, and sustainable.
Q. How were community members—especially women, youth, and students—engaged, and what kind of participation did you witness on the ground?
A. Community participation was at the heart of the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project, and special efforts were made to engage women, youth, and students to make the initiative more inclusive and impactful.
Women were encouraged to actively participate in awareness workshops on hygiene, waste management, and safe water storage practices. Their involvement was crucial, as women often manage household water and sanitation needs. Many women came forward to share local challenges, helped spread awareness among neighbours, and even volunteered to monitor the cleanliness of common areas and local water tanks.
Youth and students from local schools and colleges, along with NSS volunteers, played an important role. They participated enthusiastically in cleanliness drives, tree plantation activities, and street plays designed to raise awareness on sanitation and eco-friendly practices. Their creative energy helped make the message relatable and engaging for the wider community.
We witnessed strong participation: villagers attending workshops in good numbers, youth leading cleanliness campaigns and interactive sessions, and women forming small groups to discuss solutions for improving sanitation and water quality. This collective effort transformed the project from a university-led initiative into a truly community-owned movement, fostering both awareness and action.
Q. What kind of experiential learning did the students gain from this project and how do you see it supporting their holistic development in the long term?
A. Through the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project, students experienced meaningful experiential learning that went far beyond classroom theory.
By directly engaging with villagers, conducting surveys, organizing awareness workshops, and participating in sanitation and environmental improvement activities, students developed critical skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and project management. They learned how to plan and implement initiatives in real-world settings, adapting to local challenges and cultural sensitivities.
Significantly, this project also deepened their understanding of social responsibility and sustainable development. Students saw firsthand the complexities involved in environmental issues in semi-rural areas—insights that textbooks alone cannot fully convey. They gained a sense of empathy, civic engagement, and the importance of designing solutions that are practical, inclusive, and culturally sensitive.
In the long term, this hands-on experience will support students’ holistic development by shaping them into socially conscious professionals who can apply management and commerce knowledge to create positive impact in society. It has also nurtured problem-solving skills, ethical awareness, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders—qualities that are valuable in any future career or community leadership role.
Q. How did the team assess the impact of the initiative on sanitation practices, environmental awareness, and community behaviour?
A. The team used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the impact of the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project in Kotala.
1. Surveys:Before starting the project, students and faculty conducted surveys to understand the existing sanitation facilities, common hygiene practices, and villagers’ awareness of environmental issues. After implementing the interventions, similar endline surveys were conducted to measure changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
2. Observational assessments:Students and NSS volunteers carried out on-the-ground observations to track visible improvements—such as the cleanliness of public spaces, the condition of water storage tanks, and better waste disposal practices.
3. Community feedback:Regular feedback was gathered through informal discussions and group meetings with villagers, especially women, youth, and panchayat members. Their insights helped evaluate the acceptance and effectiveness of the awareness programs and infrastructural improvements.
4. Participation metrics:The team also measured engagement by recording the number of participants attending workshops, cleanliness drives, and tree plantation events, as well as the involvement of local schools and community groups.
Through these methods, the team could see encouraging signs of behavioural change—such as more households adopting proper waste disposal, improved maintenance of toilets and tanks, and increased willingness to participate in future eco-friendly initiatives. This comprehensive approach provided a balanced view of both tangible and intangible impacts on the village.
Q. Can you tell us more about the partnerships developed with NGOs or government departments and how they contributed to the initiative’s effectiveness?
A. To strengthen the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project, the team actively collaborated with local government departments and NGOs working in the areas of rural sanitation, water management, and environmental sustainability.
1. Coordination with local government bodies:The village panchayat and officials from the rural water supply and sanitation department provided practical support by sharing data on existing infrastructure, water contamination issues, and areas needing urgent improvement. Their involvement ensured that the project’s interventions aligned with local development plans and could be sustained beyond the project period.
2. Resource sharing and technical guidance:Government health workers supported the team by participating in workshops and helping demonstrate correct sanitation practices. These partnerships greatly enhanced the project’s effectiveness and credibility by bringing in specialized expertise, local networks, and practical resources. Most importantly, they helped build a sense of shared ownership among different stakeholders, making the initiative more impactful and sustainable for the Kotala community.
Q. Do you see this model as scalable or replicable in other villages or districts? What would be required to take it forward?
A. Yes, the ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ model is definitely scalable and replicable in other villages or districts, especially those facing similar challenges related to sanitation, water management, and limited environmental awareness.
The project’s strength lies in its community-based, participatory approach, which combines awareness, behavioural change, and infrastructure improvement—all supported by collaboration among universities, students, NSS volunteers, local leadership, NGOs, and government departments. This flexible structure can be adapted to suit the cultural and local needs of different communities.
To scale this model successfully, a few key elements are essential:
Partnerships: Strong coordination with local panchayats, NGOs, and government departments to ensure resources, alignment with local policies, and sustained support.
Student engagement: Active involvement of students and NSS volunteers to conduct surveys, awareness drives, and follow-up activities.
Context-specific planning: Conducting baseline surveys to identify local issues and designing interventions that are relevant to each village’s unique challenges.
By integrating these elements, the project can not only be replicated in neighbouring villages but can also grow into a larger, district-wide or even state-wide programme focused on rural cleanliness, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment.
Q. How does this initiative reflect Mohan Babu University’s larger mission for social responsibility and student-led community engagement?
A. The ‘Empowering Villages through Cleanliness and Green Initiatives’ project perfectly aligns with Mohan Babu University’s commitment to social responsibility, experiential learning, and holistic education.
At its core, the university’s mission emphasizes not only academic excellence but also shaping socially conscious graduates who can apply their knowledge and skills to address real-world challenges. By designing and implementing this project, students were encouraged to step out of the classroom and directly engage with local communitiesexperiencing first-hand the complexities of rural sanitation, public health, and environmental sustainability.
The initiative reflects the university’s philosophy of “learning by doing” and “serving society through education”. It empowered students to become change agents: conducting surveys, organizing awareness workshops, collaborating with panchayats and NGOs, and designing practical solutions tailored to the village’s needs. This approach fosters empathy, civic responsibility, and critical thinking, which are at the heart of the university’s vision for holistic development.
Moreover, projects like this demonstrate how Mohan Babu University actively integrates social impact into its curriculum and culture, showing that education can be a powerful force for sustainable community development. By combining knowledge, leadership, and compassion, the initiative strengthens the bridge between academic learning and meaningful social engagement.
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