By Matters India Reporter
Siliguri, April 16, 2024: A Salesian college in West Bengal has received a certificate of recognition from the United Nations Association for Development and Peace (UNADAP).
“This accolade is awarded to Salesian College (Autonomous) Siliguri, India, in recognition of conducting the Salesian Model United Nations under the theme: United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger, held April 13-15 at Siliguri,” reads the citation.
UNADAP executive director Dominic F. Dixon, who inaugurated the event and participated in the proceedings, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony during which he handed over the certificate to Salesian Father Babu Joseph, principal of Salesian College Siliguri and Sonada in northern Bengal.
The certificate signed and sealed by Dixon further reads, “Salesian College’s mission, hard work, dedication, and perseverance of its principals and faculty members and its vibrant student community since 1938 have been instrumental in gaining autonomous status for Salesian College, and we are honoured to recognise its accomplishments.”
More than 160 delegates from 18 schools participated in the third Salesian Model United Nations (SMUN) organized by students.
The delegates were divided in seven committees: United Nation’s Security Council; UN Human Rights Council; UN Commission on the Status of Women; UN General Assembly on Disarmament and International Security Council; All India Political Parties Meet; Viceroy’s Partition Council; and International Press Corps (IPC).
Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Dixon offered UNADAP internships, 7-week Masterclass on “Business and International Relations” as well as a second 7-week online course on “Spirit of Excellence, to students.”
The suggestions from SMUN 2024 on Zero Hunger will be submitted to the UNADAP.
The authorities of Salesian College (Autonomous) Siliguri (Darjeeling District West Bengal) deserve compliments for taking up the “United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger” motto. Charity they say begins at home. Therefore this `Zero Hunger’ initiative must first begin at each of our parishes under the 174 dioceses in India.
To make the `Zero Hunger’ initiative successful, malnutrition must also be addressed in each of our parishes through MUAC tests on parishioners at fixed intervals, say once a month. Malnutrition can be tested by MUAC tape measure (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference). MUAC test is a simple measurement that can be used to identify children (06 – 59 months) who have malnutrition and are at risk of dying. It uses a coloured tape that is wrapped around the left upper arm. MUAC tests can also be conducted on pregnant women to help identify and deal with cases of malnutrition.
The Salesian College can train Family, Women’s and Youth Commissions of each parish in Bengal to streamline the practice at the grassroots levels. This streamlined effort can also comprehensively address Wasting (low weight-for-height), Stunting (low height-for-age) and Underweight (low weight-for-age).