PUNE: In a bid to help the flood-affected people of Sangli and Kolhapur, as many as 1,000 students from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) will visit the two districts between August 22 to 28. 

The students will help the villagers and officials in rehabilitation and provide counselling to the villagers.

The university has adopted 10 villages in two districts of Kolhapur’s Shirol taluka which include Terwad, Rajapur, Rajapur Wadi, Takali, Akiwat, while Walwa, Borgaon, Shirgaon, Bhilawadi, Audumbar have been adopted from Sangli district.

“We have selected 1,000 students from the campus who will go to these villages as right now, more manpower is needed in these districts to restore normalcy. Therefore, rather than emphasising more on funds and commodities, we are focusing on providing the manpower to them,” said Vice-Chancellor (VC) of SPPU, Nitin Karmalkar.

The students will be sent in batches to these villages during the assigned week. The students will initially survey the villages and find the primary requirements of the villagers, and accordingly, the students will provide the necessary help, said Karmalkar.

The initiative has been undertaken under the guidance of Karmalkar, Pro-VC NS Umarani, Registrar Prafulla Pawar and management council members Rajesh Pande and Sanjay Chakane.

Chakane has said that the students will list the demands and requirements of the villages which will be communicated to the State government. 

“Besides, these students will interact with the villagers and try to counsel them. They will also ensure restoration of hygiene and sanitation in the village,” Chakane added.