https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

To Help Tribal Students Understand Science Better, Two Young IAS Officers Introduce Mobile Lab in Naxal Affected Areas of Gadchiroli

2019-batch IAS officers, Shubham Gupta and Mainak Ghosh, have together started a mobile science laboratory project in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The Mobile Science Laboratory is an imaginatively designed mini-van which accommodates science lab equipment and apparatus and a television to air science videos and documentaries. 16 Ashram schools for tribal students in the district will benefit from this project.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Two IAS officers got together to start a laudable initiative in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. They started the Mobile Science Laboratory Project for 16 Ashram schools for tribal students. In this project, a mobile science laboratory will move from one school to another so that the students can acquire practical knowledge on science.

The officers have already started a fellowship programme for recruitment of teachers for this mobile science laboratory. Young aspirants who want to work with IAS officers and are in the education sector can apply. Till now, more than 100 applications have come.

The two officers are 2019-batch IAS officer Shubham Gupta who is Asssitant Collector, Etapalli and Project Officer, ITDP, Bhamragad in Gadchiroli district, and 2019-batch IAS officer Mainak Ghosh who is Assistant Collector and Project officer, ITDP, Gadchiroli.

Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr. Shubham Gupta to get more details about the project which will be operational from 15 December.

IAS officer Shubham Gupta

THE PROJECT

Formal conventional education has thus far not had the intended impact on the learning and development outcomes of students in the Ashram schools of Gadchiroli. Students often find it difficult to relate to and comprehend textual scientific concepts. A learning approach that focuses on the practical applications of science through experiments and demonstrations, allowing children to engage more meaningfully with science, might prove to be more impactful. Hence, two IAS officers of the district, Shubham Gupta and Mainak Ghosh, thought of the mobile laboratory project.

The project is currently designed to operate in the Dhanora, Etapalli and Bhamragad blocks of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra. These blocks are the worst hit by student dropouts. The mobile science laboratory will visit 16 Ashram schools on a predesignated route. Those enrolled in the fellowship programme will spend nearly a month in each Ashram school over the course of a year, teaching and demonstrating experiments.

The three blocks where the project has been started are the most Naxal affected and are very backward. The 16 Ashram schools here are residential schools which impart education up to the secondary level to children belonging to Scheduled Tribes (STs). The dropout rate in these schools is very high. After doing a survey in these 16 schools, the officers found out that children do not have even the basic knowledge of science. And because of language problem, most students who attend class do not understand the scientific terms and their meanings. Hence, it was decided to teach science to them practicals so that they can grasp easily.

Mr. Gupta said, “After all, language is a medium to express oneself. So if something is being taught practically, then they will easily understand and learn the language, too. That is why, this project was started with the dual purpose – that children should have knowledge of science and also learn language.”

IAS officer Mainak Ghosh

MOBILE SCIENCE LABORATORY VAN

Because labs are expensive, the officers wanted to start their project with reduced cost. “So we thought of making a mobile science laboratory which will move from place to place. This will cover all 16 schools. And children will learn science and a little bit about astronomy and climate change also,” Mr. Gupta said.

The Mobile Science Laboratory is an imaginatively designed mini-van which accommodates science lab equipment and apparatus like a telescope, resistors, test-tubes, etc., and a television to air science videos and documentaries. The MSL along with two teaching fellows will visit Ashram schools and teach students scientific concepts by way of demonstrating experiments (learning by seeing), showing educational videos, and playing interesting games, while also giving students the chance to perform experiments themselves and allowing them to engage deeply with the material. The topics covered include concepts and experiments from physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, climate change and ecology.

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

After work commenced on the project, the question arose who will teach the children and move around in the Mobile Science Laboratory van. “If we appoint any regular teacher for this, then, chances of success of this project will decrease as these teachers already have lots to do in the schools. So, we decided to organise a fellowship. We are recruiting some young students who want to work with IAS officersand are interested in the field of education. We are proposing one year fellowship and will continue as per need and possibilities,” Mr. Gupta said.

‘The Teach Climate & Science Fellowship’ is a 12-months opportunity for fellows to work as full time teachers in the Ashram schools of Gadchiroli. Fellows will travel with the van and stay overnight at the Ashram schools, allowing them to work closely with the students over the course of a year.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
HUDCO
HUDCO Gets Centre’s Nod to Float ₹5,000 Crore Zero-Coupon Bonds - Know About It
Lt. Gen
Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma Appointed Northern Army Commander; Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Named New CISC - Know About Them
Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI)
MIDHANI Appoints Three New Non-Executive Directors to Its Board - Know About Them
Civil Services Day 2025 Awards by PM Modi
Civil Services Day 25: PM Modi Unveils e-Coffee Table Books, Confers Public Service Excellence Awards
Chhattisgarh IPS
Out of 142 IPS Officers in Chhattisgarh, DGP Arun Dev Gautam Has Less Wealth Than 67 of His Juniors
PM Modi
PM Modi Addresses 17th Civil Services Day: Calls for a Future-Ready, People-Centric Bureaucracy to Build a Developed India
Rajasthan Public Service Commission RPSC
Rajasthan: RPSC Brings UPSC-Style Interview Process for RAS 2023 to Boost Transparency
MP IAS
National Civil Services Day 2025: MP’s IAS Officers Earn National Praise for Innovation and Public Service
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
UPSC Stories
images (14)
Utsav Anand, the UPSC Topper Who Chose Public Service Over a Plush Career
From IIT Bombay to the 2022 IAS batch (Haryana cadre), Utsav Anand’s journey is proof that sharp minds...
pushplata-yadav-ias
How IAS Pushp Lata’s Strategy and Spirit Took Her to AIR 80
From rural Haryana to IAS, Pushp Lata Yadav’s journey reflects focused planning, adaptation, and the...
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
HUDCO
HUDCO Gets Centre’s Nod to Float ₹5,000 Crore Zero-Coupon Bonds - Know About It
Lt. Gen
Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma Appointed Northern Army Commander; Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Named New CISC - Know About Them
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT