https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A Mobile Science Lab In Gadchiroli Aims To Bring Back The School Dropouts

· A mobile science lab project is helping tribal students in Naxal-affected district of Maharashtra · Project Vigyan igniting scientific temperament among kids · The Mobile Science Laboratory is catering to 16 Ashram Schools
Indian Masterminds Stories

A big bus with scientific and mathematical formulae painted all over it rolls down a muddy road in the forested area of Gadchiroli to a waiting audience of young tribal children whose inquisitiveness knows no bounds.

Till last year, the administration in this Naxal-affected region of Maharashtra had seen a high dropout rate in the Ashram schools (the residential schools that impart education up to the secondary level to Scheduled Tribes children). 

But not anymore. Project Vigyan’s (PV) mobile science lab has made all the difference. 

Mobile Science Lab Van

JADU KA PITARA

Not only are the students of 16 Ashram schools getting complementary lessons into Darwin’s evolution, ISRO’s reach into outer space, but also about carbon sequestration, soil regeneration and water recharge-like subjects that will eventually become more meaningful as the carbon credit markets and bio diversity markets take off.

Most of the dropouts before January 2023, when PV was yet to be implemented, were due to language barriers but all that has been tackled by two Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDP) officers from the 2019 batch — Assistant Collector Etapalli Shubham Gupta and Assistant Collector Gadchiroli Mainak Ghosh.

Inside view of mobile science lab

SCIENTIFIC TEMPER

To increase curiosity among the children topics like Astronomy, and connected equipments have been included. A curriculum has been developed regarding climate change that will be the first of its kind in the country, Mr. Shubham Gupta tells Indian Masterminds.

“Our initiative was to develop a scientific temper. The core idea was to initiate curiosity among the kids. They must understand basic science and question everything. It is a positive sign that children are taking keen interest in PV and are happy,” said Mr. Gupta.

2019 batch IAS officer Shubham Gupta, Asssitant Collector, Etapalli and Project Officer, ITDP, Bhamragad, Gadchiroli district

INSPIRATION

IAS Shubham gives credit to a 1990 project of Vidnyanvahini, a non-profit organisation that began a Mobile Science Lab for students around Pune.

The Project Vigyan bus of 2023 moves from one school to another with a stop over period of a week.

The bus houses a science lab with equipment like telescope, resistor, test tubes besides a

television that shows videos and documentaries. Three teachers, who call themselves “fellows” work closely with the students. 

No regular teachers were appointed instead “The Teach Climate and Science Fellowship’, a 12-month opportunity for those who wanted to work with IAS officers were given the opportunity.

Children watching videos in mobile science lab with lot of curiosity

SUCCESS STORY

Under the project for a year, the students will have the chance to experiment on topics related to physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, climate change, and ecology.

The officers put stress on climate change as it is a reality that the GoI is also actively working to tackle.

With PV, the language barrier has ended, the practical methods have helped students to grasp knowledge easily.

Science practical for students

Mr. Gupta said, “This project was started with the dual purpose – that children should have knowledge of science and also learn their language.”

The project is currently operating in Dhanora, Etapalli and Bhamragad blocks of Gadchiroli district. 

Mr Shubham Gupta said, “If it becomes successful in a place like Gadchiroli, then this innovation can improve children’s education in the entire country.”

2019-batch IAS officer Mainak Ghosh, Assistant Collector and Project officer, ITDP, Gadchiroli

Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
UPSC New Logo
UPSC to Publish Provisional Answer Key After Prelims for First Time, Enabling Objections and Transparency
Snow leopard cubs
Himachal Pradesh Records 83 Snow Leopards as Rare Pallas’s Cat and Flying Squirrel Spotted for First Time
Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Mines Opens ₹1,500 Crore Incentive Scheme for Critical Mineral Recycling in India
ICGS Akshar
ICGS Akshar Commissioned at Karaikal: Indigenous Fast Patrol Vessel Boosts Indian Coast Guard Capabilities
TEC IIIT Naya Raipur
TEC and IIIT Naya Raipur Sign MoU to Drive Innovation in 5G, 6G, and Future Telecom Standards
Bhupendra Patel Gujarat Dipotsavi 2081
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Unveils Dipotsavi 2081 Celebrating State’s Rich Literary and Cultural Heritage
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
All Eyes on Bihar: EC Reviews Poll Readiness, CEC IAS Gyanesh Kumar Calls Political Parties Pillars of Democracy
Digital-India-
Digital India’s Game-Changer: Is India Poised for a Complete Shift to Indigenous Platforms?
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
UPSC New Logo
UPSC to Publish Provisional Answer Key After Prelims for First Time, Enabling Objections and Transparency
Snow leopard cubs
Himachal Pradesh Records 83 Snow Leopards as Rare Pallas’s Cat and Flying Squirrel Spotted for First Time
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT