Table Of ContentSocial Inclusion through Science Centre Activities in India
Since independence India has hud an exablisned
poligy and williggness to recagnise and address
UMterent fvmns of social inecuality and exclesion and
hes time em time used conttienal and lepislative
Shecatiams to address them, Io spite af erblisted
policies and efors a diferent govsnrmental levels
fra noa-pavarnmental forums, thors contest be
lange dispar'y between regions and social groups as
well as paysical, menal end gender inequalities,
Empowering the Socially excluded population in al
spheres of activites is cherefore essential fbr the
(herlldeveloprment i theeouniny
Im the context of nanetormel edlucation, seienee
Murieyisalsoasimparaintas her fem rere Ik
is alsa powerful tool for saval inclusion, Science
tones haverelovance toll setions ofthe population
find have hecome an important interface beowon
clonce und society. Sinee these centes operete serose
enerephical seonomie. political. relpiane and
ecltura. boutdares they tnpact the well-bemne,
‘ecucaton, and skill of stnext and feture generation.
Tn this bret an attempt has been made fo exemine the
actsiies of seienee exitees and muses aimed at
‘rigging about socis. Inclusion throueb special
programmes, andespecial'yby the National Coune lot
Science Museums (CSM) fo bring in new faces of
seience ard technology o ful the Coune I's mandate
‘pop latisingseiense and lela ogy.
Some ofthe fetor responsle for soil exelosion in
the context of vis fo selence cenites and nuseunss
saethe aowing
1D Geuraphical exmowness of residence with cespect,
lo the earest science verizemuseant
LL) Lack ofedveation andassoctateden ama
1D Physical, visual, hearing, speech and locomotcr
stsabiites
17 Statiicstion cue to age, occupation ane educational
Ybackgrcund, since most selenoe certes and
nent lat "ie sce isl apy
F1 Eeonomie constraints ofan individ or ary
enn,
For ia tbe galls competitive nthe It cen,
erie factor would be te ability 1p harmess the
Krowledge potential of its people. Wi $50 milion
people below the awe of 2S, human capital is Ladi’:
realest asse. To best use is bourzeaning potential
the country ageds a knowledge orien ed peradigin and
Arijit Dutta Choudhury
facunsel capacity and quisy bul im che il
educatios. I tis context grea: emphasis needs to be
focussed towerds rural Indis, which as a large
population base and a potestial ‘aut ean be ruled
‘aly with « knowlodg uplift of the rural populace
Resising the petontal and smpontancs of special
Programmes for he sural masses, NCSM had
fhtrodiead mobile scisnee eshibition ses neko
“mmisenbases™ operate Tranter nd
TSchsolowical Vseum, Kolkata, Over ears, th
snobile exhisitins have spread all ver he engi nd
breath ofthe country through anstwork of 26 science
centres. Thisspecial peogranoe forte les prisileyed
ural masses wath fried wees o urbu luli es
bbsen in cperativn for over our dees. Costinucs
Upgrace of this programme is expected to £0 2 lo
‘Say in smpewsriag the excluded population with new
\Enowledge that would ultimately contribute to nation
building
Arocent addition ta activities of NCSM witha similar
‘objective isthe collaboration sth the foes education
‘authorities 0 bring Tal underprivilewed children to
Iajor science eenttes und the central gosemnments
‘Suva Sista Abhiyan, Speciel package programmes
inave been devised by several science centres tues the
CCoumneil 3s an ineemive "0 cneovrage visi, Paresh
thisschemethe site ecucation departs havs heen
Sponsoring “he vsic oF students ta the nearest signee
‘knttes, The process, which stared year bask, las
Siellod very" encouraging response and it i aly
ihestening 9 see some sta authoritieseven traning,
Incl sta’ for ane fon nights fr shes fiom ft
‘ung rofl areas, THe visits are made mote frit By
inchiding visits to aumberof educational institutions
sduringone such sip.
Ina simile vein, special interventions sre nevessary 10
ensure ateaier Access t0.50°8 formel sn non-formal
flucation of echestonally. deprived cateworics 13
luban canglomoratons. A lege section or iba
ikon ae deprived of pinay eesti thew
Formal sysem duc to nancial consteains. and
pressure 0 earn Iivelihood foe ther dent Family
Imensbers. These children, if not attendee to with
[proper care diving thet vmative yeas ae Tikey 1
‘Become a burden to the seciety aad thereire need
special attention. While NGOs. and. voluntary
organisations, wit Doth governmental and
Pulathrop.c support, extend free education ad ether
frelfare measures, seienc> centres ca play an
P- pagation
iui stsiens:Cormeieuion
Sf
inportunt role as feiss inthis mission. NCSME in
the recent past have initiated spacial programmes for
nderrivlaped urban children and strenzthened
1a woUlG be ef mutual aenelt for the
es ullng “bet nate also the
Soles in gyowing with a. more. knowles
ufition. Asa stap in cs ivecrion, selene
tinder he Coupe have initiated speci ar
fos the economically undororivilezed children of the
iad alii In associsien with NGOsand
filer voluntary erganisations, Guided visi
eu meeps ad. speci
lextasion activities ae boing orgaised on a “eplar
basisancalrge numer of disadvantage children are
now privileged to visit these ence
Compuresaininggrogrumenesorstee
thle al Nekma Senve Cette Mun
Sina: te needs of the physi
hve to ne fretoved in mare earoughly within 4
Lit nf science cen: activities. Heing pubic places
the goal chal sience cenzes und museuns should be
nce, which tears Ina all inestuctures
faciivas ust be otkaled (3 allow the ei
possible access to paople wih dirt ri snd
tides Whe most scence eats tulldigs ner
‘he Counell hace prosinns or acess and nviglion
for the visuals” Tpaized andthe py
faudivapped fer majority of is faites ad
structive methnd inpleention a key aco fr
inclsivenem noses more teaion fom doth exhib
designers ad rant end osuattsal Beexpostion. In
#sinlar vein, educa os
Sree ode wth peosie wth ater
Major steps in this dire on lave i n the pi
alfons of Regional Seicnse Cente, Ciba Uf
ling up Brat labts at exhbiceat he roma ad
Metis! plan corner sa novel exhibit ie
“The Werld of Darkness” To he visually inp
de inte Indusinal & Teshnologic! Vase
Koiksta. Both these failies have reveived
fom the users and: sll
Inodvate exhibit designers Yo conser tis tspest
future procs as well as in exising insolation
heres as
Fig. 3. Blind studensat Vo
Regional Scene
Fig. 4 World of Borknees exhib
Techn
mat Ble Tal &
58
Sei tor -tuaton progammes tab npractioe
iN most scence confer and mye ich alan of
permanent diplays ae the ulumate gpa fr nse
frowi Is Wie roars parmcsipe wi poca
Stans ester een sled pops hat
ide sae En symone tpt anes
Mh speci needs and che severly shal benete
tothe scarce ones exwel axed ners
ccarional using is an import elemert in building a
‘now lee sviels. Specialised tearamg programmes for
people of diferent educaionclatuinents esd to he
‘essed far both ul al uen populuce in andr to he
‘ffectve inthe chaawing nstonal context, and “or Thin
Toenjoy the fits of tained manpower. Inthe conto of
inchnive grow, iis crncal to develop ae sail and
Tesinologsesl lites in order o preenere en playity
smorg people wilh love incomes, Unless this doe,
Sosileselision processes would he fsther aggmvated
THis equally necessary to-ecoyise local requirements n
competencies to isprave Lelong leaming forall The
CCoureil trough its aetwork of sence etre has over
te past two decades exlenied vocational tmme
Prmatily ais Distist Science Cents fo the
coxauiy flange. Suet programmes have not only
boncfited the tminees in eaming ther veld i
have ako catered to the Gevemsont's inclusive policy
1 fiopart vocatioral traning for poople of diferent
‘hve inal aliments. These programnics hace besn
franged. through etnsulaioms with lal ibsry
fioups and tie adbisory commitees andre par of
Fegular actly schedules of mest dict seionee
fenties. Effort: Tor appropriate accredasion and
etcation of fe eaning prowearmmes by approgriate
authorities would further bepelit the tamees, some
‘omanoppartunity or absorp bythe mast
Stra eation due © age, eceupation, and esscatonal
bbackgroural ss been ta important issue for social
sion, especially in today’s realm of new
Knowleige and changing teelnelogy: Science contos
and ruuseus are plans where skills nFeurrent nd
Ficute geterations, cating across gengranhical and
sosisl boundaries, can Fe suitably ikdressed “br
lnlusive gros ofall sgamerts of seviety. In this
‘oatext th the adventoftalrrationtsehnology snd
iis associated benefits, National Council of
Ajit Choudhury sitet. Se
Maagraitcom
Prs:pagation
Jour of Sine Conmuicaion
Science Museums in collaboration with Intel
‘siablised i 1996 (wo stue-obthe-ar muldinedia
Tis called “Intel Cybersboels’ ia National Science
Cente, Del rd Nearu Scisnee Conte, Mumbe
Fis §, Computer Avoruness Programme st Nobu
(Cerne Mur
"he lab italy gave school chikeen and tucker ey
access te. Pontm:processor based “mulimmedia
computers, detionl software aad the lates! ch
uth ime very Titec petition in ues ser
the county. The faclily was very ston extended 1a
Snir citizens and Famenakers and became ast
oceossl activity at both these Cyberskool, reflecting
tha hunger fo naw knowledge, ih hd remained tt
frat dio thet ng, cupation her soi
factors. While inlracing, wilh senior ckizens- and
Themes, tho facts was vo dispel te perce far
fom their minds tom the ‘ean end
Project # welcoming sumospere. The fates. of this
ghren was sustained by ensusiag Ot the ining was
!npropriatey paca and was yreseated it a easily
uFdestond fora vid of rrgons nommally assoeie
‘withthe subject.
To consiude, professionals working in science eetres
and musoumi have ) contin ously evolve ste
fesioing, primarily lol tesoierens to eile sie
institutions: more sovaly inclusive, widen access (0
their exhibitions snd aetvtes, end build ina muser
that is condicive to pursue social inclusion aan
import aspect ina cevolopmestal and education
eC, Kolkat.
