Green Teacher – ENVIS website for Environment Education

Harit Chalwal .. Ek Disha
This publication describes a variety of old and new festivals and 'environment days', with examples of projects and activities that schools can take up. Attractively written, illustrated and designed this publication conceived of by Mr Prakash Thosre, Social Foresty Directorate, Govt of Maharashtra is a useful resource for schools and non-formal educators as well.

Green Legacy
This 17 minute film produced by Social Forestry Directorate and directed by Bharat Rawal describes the implmentation in Maharashtra of the National Green Corps programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt of India. The Social Forestry Directorate is the nodal agency and Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research is the resource agency.

The film begins with an overview of some global issues. It then goes on to provide a short description of the National Green Corps Scheme as a platform for school students to be involved in local action. Most of the film then depicts several activities being undertaken by NGC club members in Maharashtra: safe, green festivals, plantation, clean-up campaigns etc. NGC Parks have been created in a few locations where students can explore nature and play eco-games, put up bird boxes, etc. NGC parks are being set in each district. The parks have mini weather observatory, butterfly garden, medicinal plant garden, nakshatra van, shraddha van (which is a modern day version of the concept of sacred grove) etc.

A couple of months back I visited DoorStep School which is a Pune based NGO that provides free education primarily to children of migrant labor and slum-dwellers. As part of their activities I found they took the children to a science laboratory called Quest. I was excited to hear about it. It turned out that they had their annual science exhibition on Feb 21st.