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| Fundraiser For Helena Kaushik Education Foundation |
Anil Saigal
05/17/2006
&
Resources & Environment Group, Inc.
In association with
The ARCH (www.theArch.org)
Invite you to a
Fundraising Gala Banquet & Recognitions
For ‘Education of Women in India’ – at Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s College, Malsisar, Rajasthan, India
Where: Gottesman Roon, Kessel Campus Center, Pace University, 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville NY 10570, (914) 773-3737
Program: 6.00 pm – 6.30 pm: Cocktail Reception, 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm: Dinner, 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm: Recognition & Presentation, 8:30.00 pm – 10.00 00 pm: Music & Dance by ARCH dancers, and by all
Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s College has been Empowering Women of Rural India since 1999. The mission of this College is to prepare future leaders. The young women who will attend this College will be provided with the highest quality educational environment to acquire knowledge, develop leadership skills for their chosen professions and vocations. The College adheres to the highest standards for courses, facilities and faculty set by the University Grants Commission of India.
A Brief History
Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s College, located in a rural area 150 miles west of Delhi and 120 miles north of Jaipur, opened its doors to rural students on August 4, 1999 when it was inaugurated by the former Governor and Chief Justice of Rajasthan, Justice N.L. Tibrewal; economic adviser, Dr. Raja J. Chelliah; Former Minister and Member of Parliament, Padam Shri Sis Ram Ola; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan, Dr. Kanta Ahuja; Dr. Surendra K. Kaushik; and others.
The Founder
The College was founded by Surendra K. Kaushik, Ph.D., a native of Malsisar and Professor of Finance at the Lubin School of Business of Pace University in New York City and Westchester, New York, USA. The College was named for his American wife who had visited India five times before a disabling stroke in 1991.
Motivation
Access to higher education is extremely limited in rural India and due to economic and social factors and the lack of facilities, opportunities are especially limited for women. As of 1997, only 1 percent of Indian women had a college education, compared with 3 percent of Indian men. Yet, higher education is the catalyst propelling India out of poverty. For local women, there was no college within 20 miles of Malsisar. Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s College will fulfill a great need for women’s education in this rural area.
The Mission Statement
Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s College will strive to prepare young women in India to achieve excellence in their endeavors and to be visionary and effective leaders in their chosen professions and vocations in the service of their communities, India, and the world.
Students
The students come from some 65 villages and hamlets around Malsisar, other districts in Rajasthan, and the neighboring state of Haryana. Students with Ist and and 2nd Division in their Senior Secondary examination are accepted at the college to give an opportunity to a wide range of talent, motivation and aptitude for college level studies. They represent all socio-economic groups in a wide area around the college. Eighty percent of our students are from what is classified by the central government in India as Scheduled Cates/Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class groups! Merit, talent, and income based scholarships are awarded to a large number of students.
Examination Results
230 students have graduated from 2002 to 2006 with B.A., B.Sc. and M.A. degrees in large number of majors. Our students have continued their outstanding success in achieving 100 percent or near 100 percent success in their university examinations exams since 2000. In 2005, nearly 40 to 60 percent received Ist Division and most others 2nd Division, with the remaining one or two the 3rd Division. Some 80 percent have gone on to further higher studies to get M.A. and B.Ed. degrees; several are working as teachers and others are preparing for civil service examinations and entrepreneurial enterprises.
Faculty
University Grants Commission norms are observed: The College employs faculty with a master’s or doctoral degree in the subject plus clearance of the National Eligibility Test (NET) or State-Level Eligibility Test (SLET). Faculty strength has grown from 5 in 1999-2000 to 25 in 2005-2006. Faculty must pursue and build a record of excellence in their teaching, research and publication, and service to students, the College, and the community before they are tenured. Faculty have come from the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, and West Bengal.
The New Campus
The College was granted 30 acres for its campus by the government of Rajasthan in 1999.
• Mrs. Kamla Beniwal, Revenue Minister of Rajasthan, laid the corner stone of the 50,000 sq. ft. Academic Hall in February 2000. Construction began in September 2000 and was completed in February 2002.
• Mrs. Mohini Sharma inaugurated the Computer Lab in February 2000.
• The Rajasthan Energy Development Agency (REDA) Energy Center opened in February 2002 and held its first education camp for rural women in the use of renewable energy sources in March 2002.
• An 18-room guesthouse was completed in February 2002.
• Dr. Girija Vyas, President, Pradesh (State) Congress Committee of Rajasthan laid the corner stone for a 150-bed residence hall in July 2000. It was named Ratni Devi Sharma Residence Hall inaugurated by Ms. Shobha Kaushik on July 15, 2003.
• Former Congressman Richard Ottinger of the United States inaugurated the John Dorr Science Lab and the Nell Dorr Art Gallery and opened classrooms named for Eleanor and Frank Genovese, Margaret Mead Gunn, Edward J. Kingsbury, and the Steel Family in January 2002. Other Americans honored by 2003 with their name plates are: June and Richard Ottinger, Roy Girasa, and Gudrun and Robert Isaak,
• Other rooms named in honor of Indians by 2004 are: Maharana of Mewar Foundation, Shanti and J.N. Sharma,Basdev Bhakt, Bhawani Das Bhatia, Chandra Prakash Khetan, Parmeshwari Prasad Khetan, Rukmani Devi Khetan, Hanuman Prasad Pujari, Heera Pujari, Jagdish Prasad Verma, and Santosh and Yagya Vrat Chandan.
• John Dorr Science Labs were completed in July 2003 for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology degree programs that were offered beginning in the academic year 2003-2004.
• Two doubles tennis courts were completed and inaugurated in July 2004 by Dr. Surendra Kaushik in July 2004.
• The Honorable Sumitra Singh, Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly laid the foundation stone for a water tank, a race track, and a basketball court on January 17, 2005 at a special convocation in her honor.
• A perimeter wall with all gates in place was completed in June 2005.
Course Offerings
Bachelor of Arts (since 1999-2000): Economics, English, Geography, Hindi, History, Home Science, Mathematics, Music, Political Science, Psychology, and Sanskrit. Philosophy was added in 2004-2005.
Bachelor of Science (beginning in 2003-2004): Biology-Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and Microbiology were added in 2003-2004..
Master of Arts (beginning in 2002-2003): Economics, English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Political Science, and Psychology.
Geography was added in 2004-2005.
Certificate Of Library Science and Bachelor of Library Science were approved to be offered in 2004-2005.
Bachelor of Computer Application and Post-Graduate Diploma in Computer Application were also approved for 2004-2005.
Research Seminars
To create a high academic environment of inquiry, the College has hosted the following international research seminars:
Renewable Energy in January 2002 (Sponsored by the Energy Center of Pace University under the direction of the Honorable Richard L. Ottinger, former Member of the United States House of Representatives, and Dean Emeritus of Pace University Law School, who also chaired the seminar.)
Sustainable Development in July 2003 (Chaired by Professor S.N. Mishra, former Director of the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi.)
Women’s Education and Development in 2004 (Chaired by Professor S.N. Mishra and co-ordinated by Professor J.B.G. Tilak of the National Institutee for Educational Policy and Administration, Delhi.)
Women Leaders and Development: Women and Political Participation in July 2005 (Sponsored by the National Commission for Women, Government of India, Chaired by Dr. Girija Vyas who also delivered the keynote address.)
Honorees
Hon. Richard L. Ottinger, Former Member of Congress and Dean Emeritus, Pace Law School
Hon. Nita Lowey, Member of Congress
Suggested Donation per person: $125 payable to HKEF or REG, Inc. ($100 is tax-deductible)
Mail Reservation to: 221 Macy Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
Ph: 914-762-6168 / Fax: 914-762-8038
If you are unable to attend and would like to make a contribution or need additional information, please visit www.helenakaushik.org
or contact Prof. Surendra Kaushik at skaushik@pace.edu.
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