https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Igniting A Scientific Temper In The Tribal Youth of Chandrapur

IAS officer Vivek Jhonson is building science parks in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district The officer believes that these open science parks will prepare the next generation of innovators He is also building sports complexes to direct the tribal youth towards sports
Indian Masterminds Stories

Science and scientific experiments were not part of the education of the tribal students in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. These students, who reside in small hamlets in remote areas, go to tribal schools and have the curiosity like any other student to learn more and put this learning into practice. The only thing they lacked was proper ‘exposure’.

So, 2018 batch IAS officer and CEO of Chandrapur Zila Parishad, Mr. Vivek Johnson, decided to bring these student closer to science and innovation, by providing them hands-on experiences on scientific theories.

Inspired by the CV Raman Science Park in Nagpur, he created 28 parks in Chandrapur and plans to buid 55 more. These open science parks are rapidly enhancing the tribal students’ grasp of scientific knowledge. But, he has not stopped at this. He has further built 85 sports complexes in rural schools under ‘Khelo Chanda’ which are fostering a sports culture among the students.

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Johnson shared details about these two initiatives for holistic development of the tribal youth.

IAS Vivek Jhonson

IGNITING PASSION FOR SCIENCE

“By nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a passion for science, these open science parks will prepare the next generation of innovators and contributing to a brighter future for the district,” he said.

Most of these parks, in remote villages of the district, include instruments and equipments to conduct experiments which are part of the syllabus. Mr. Johnson said that the locations were chosen strategically so that each park covers maximum schools of an area. A schedule is already in place under which students of schools other than the 28 tribal schools can visit the park on rotational basis. These science parks are complemented by 15 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) labs in schools to provide an all-round research-oriented environment to the students.

The results are showing, as these parks have been able to encourage exploration, questioning, critical thinking, and curating of scientific temper among the students. The practical learning experiences that complement the theoretical knowledge have led to better understanding and retention of scientific concepts.

“I believed that these parks will create an inspiring environment for experimentation and innovation. Students will be encouraged to explore new ideas, design experiments, and develop solutions to real-world problems,” Mr. Johnson said.

He added that parents are now demanding for more such parks in other areas too. As such, 55 more parks will be ready for students to explore soon.

KHELO CHANDA

Besides science and innovation, Mr. Jhonson is also promoting a sports culture through 85 MGNREGA-backed sports complexes built across rural schools. He said that Chandrapur “might be the only district to start such an initiative in the country, demonstrating innovative and constructive use of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.”

By promoting grassroot sports development and inclusivity, these complexes have substantially improved various aspects of life in the district, contributing to enhanced physical fitness and overall well-being. From running tracks to basketball and volleyball courts, the complexes have everything that can lead to better physical development, coordination and endurance among children. These will further help to focus on talent and nurture promising young athletes from rural areas, providing them with opportunities to reach their full potential.

FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY

At the same time, the emphasis on ‘sports for women’ empowers girls and young women to participate in traditionally male-dominated activities, challenging gender stereotypes and promoting equal opportunities. This has also incorporated provisions for sports among people with disabilities.

“Khelo Chanda fosters a more inclusive sports environment, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate and benefit from physical activity. I hope that this initiative serves as a model for replicating successful sports development programs in other rural areas across the country,” Mr. Johnson said in conclusion.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
IPS-logo-resized_new
10 Senior Cops Get New Roles In Bihar Police; DG Jitendra Kumar Gets Additional Charge of B-SAP
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
Jharkhand IFS Rajneesh Kumar Transferred Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings - Details Inside
Uttar Pradesh UP Government
17 Review Officers Transferred in Uttar Pradesh Secretariat Administration Reshuffle - Details Inside
IFS-forest-resized
6 IFS Officers Transferred in Odisha to Strengthen Environmental Administration, Jagayandatt Pati Made RCCF, Koraput Circle
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
4 Young IAS Officers Reshuffled in Uttarakhand, Rahul Anand Made Joint Magistrate, Dehradun
Odisha Government
Odisha Elevates Two Promising IFS Officers to Senior Time Scale, Strengthening Forest Leadership - Know More About Them
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT