The Institute of Engineering and Management (IEM) hosted the 10th edition of its model United Nations with participation from near and far.
There were more than 10 institutes that joined us, including Jadavpur University and Amity University, schools like DPS Megacity and Sri Aurobindo Institute of Education as well as outstation institutes like NIT Durgapur and KIIT Bhubaneswar.
Sessions at the various committees began with the executive board members detailing the proceedings and protocols of a model United Nations conference. Participants raised motions, spoke with passion, pointed out flaws and fallacies in each other’s arguments, and fought for their agenda.
We hosted five committees that discussed myriad issues. The United Nations Human Rights Council reviewed the impact of cultural warfare and hegemony on human rights as well as the relationship between human rights and security conflicts around the globe.
A committee on peaceful uses of outer space discussed the threat of an accelerated space arms race, and a committee of Indian political parties discussed the uniform civil code and debated on the topic of “one nation one election”.
“The climate change conference discussed the status of the 2015 Paris Agreement,” said Rajsekhar Hajrah of the host college, who had assumed the role of a Denmark delegate. “The research we undertook for this conference has given us an overview of policies from around the world, many of which India should adopt. For instance, Denmark’s stand against the use of plastic is very strong and effective,” said the second-year student who, at the end of the two-day meet, got appointed as the secretary general for next year’s model UN.
“This was my first inter-college event and was daunting at first since everyone else was very well-versed in the topics,” said Ayantika Chakraborty, first year student at IEM. She represented Ukraine in the committee on peaceful uses of outer space. “We discussed the space arms race and though Ukraine has limited space activities and is crippled by war, I got to learn about space laws and treaties. I also gained enough confidence to say that I’m a new person by the end of this MUN.”
There was also an international press department that clicked and reported on all the proceedings.
Finally, the best delegation award went to Sadachar Unnayan Samiti, a group formed by former students of various institutes who specialise in model UNs.
IEM’s volunteers and the ground team were seen running about managing the crowd and ensuring the events flowed smoothly. There were some minor hitches, as would be expected in a college event of this scale, but they were all resolved efficiently. And now we are already looking forward to the next edition of IEM MUN.
Dept of mechanical engineering, IEM
GAMES TO BOOST FOCUS
Eurokids Salt Lake transformed their BB Block preschool into a fun zone for a belated Children’s Day celebration.
The school has a branch in CK Block too and students of both centres had come over. There were games like fishing, where kids had to catch toy fish out of an inflated pool, there were competitions to cap bottles, stack sticks in grids etc. “We had designed educational games so kids develop their concentration while playing,” said principal Soma Chandra.
There was a gym room with foam flooring and lots apparatus that allowed the juniors to jump, climb, crawl and tumble. The day was open to parents too and contests such as mom-and-child sit-and-draw had many registering.
Four-year-old Alina Paul and her mother won this for drawing the picture of a family together. There were book and food stalls as well. “Today’s event proved that given the opportunity, children prefer physical games over the mobile phone,” said Chandra.
