Aims & Objectives
- To make the people conscious about the utilization of natural resources for the interest of the society.
- To inspire about the uses of Science & Technology in daily life.
- To develop the awareness of the people about environment, Public health etc. To educate the people about the harmful effects of different products which are produced or made by the monopoly capitalist of our country and abroad, specially by Multinational Corporation.
- To encourage innovative, fundamental, scientific research and developments.
- To continue the struggle for scientific education in mother tongue.
- To launch movement against fundamentalism, superstition and unscientific ideas.
- To oppose the implementation of any technology that is against the interest of society.
- To create movement for peoples oriented science and technology policies.
- To publish popular science magazine, science related books, monographs, pamphlets, etc regularly.
- To take necessary program against the use of science and technology in war to destroy the human civilization.
- To implement the projects and programs for the attainment of self-reliance of the country and to help reach its benefits to the people.
History
INDIA DURING 30’s & 40’s:
During the period of 30’s and 40’s, India witnessed growing of freedom struggle. Science education (in strictly modern sense of the term) started in India even in colonial days. For that reason institutes for science research as well as eminent scientists could be found in India in the colonial days. Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were founded in the mid-Nineteenth century. Some important scientific institutes and research centers like Institute for Cultivation of science, Asiatic Society (both of Calcutta) sprang up in our country during colonial days, even in Nineteenth century. Eminent scientists like Jagadish Chandra Bose, Prafulla Chandra Roy, C. V. Raman, Ramanujan, Meghnad Saha, Satyen Bose, P. S. Mahalanobis, Krishnan, H. J. Bhabha, Visweshsariya etc. All are a few of them who conducted their works in close association with Indian freedom struggle. To imbibe Indian people with modern and progressive thoughts, a lot of efforts were undertaken as a part of freedom struggle. A lot of streams were there which together formed this effort. To fight against the age old superstitions, bigotry, obscurantism with the help of science was such a stream which was observed in many parts of our country during freedom struggle. These efforts may be termed as Peoples’ science movement in an embryonic form.
PEOPLES’ SCIENCE MOVEMENT IN INDIA:
Apart from the effort of making the Indian education system scientific and democratic, serious efforts for making people aware of science, incubating scientific temper among the people, taking benefits of science and technology to the people in general and poor in particular, were very much there in India. But, peoples’ science movement as is known today was not there. Peoples’ science movement, where a number of people engaged in all types of activities for taking science and its benefits to the people, is not very old in our country. Peoples’ science movement with well defined objective was first initiated in the state of Kerala. As far as our India is concerned, PSM emerged for the first time (in term of statewide movement with clear-cut program) by the formation of Kerala Shastriya Sahitya Parishad(KSSP). It was during 60’s - KSSP was founded in the year 1962. Subsequently a number of organizations with the objective of PSM were formed in various states. To name a few, Karnataka Rajya Vigyan Parishad (KRVP), Andhra Pradesh Vigyan Vedika, Tamil Nadu Science forum, Eklauvya (MP), Madhya Pradesh Vigyan Sabha (MPVS), Haryana Vigyan Mancha, Assam Science Society, Delhi Science Forum (DSF), etc.
PEOPLES’ SCIENCE MOVEMENT - WEST BENGAL EXPERIENCE:
Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha (PBVM) is at present one of the largest PSM organisations of our country. Its membership strength has already crossed 3 lack 42 thousand marks. PBVM has got its units in all 19 districts of West Bengal. PBVM is working through lowest level units in rural and urban areas. With the help of innumerable units throughout the state PBVM is maintaining links with thousands of science activists who are working with commitment to take science and technology to the people.
Though Paschim Banga Vigyan Mancha was formed in the year 1986, but this formation of PBVM should be looked upon as the culmination of a process which was initiated in this part of the country a long ago, even in pre-independence days. Before independence, at the time of united Bengal, local endeavors of some educated people could be found to make people science aware, though without any clear program and statewide co-ordination. Notwithstanding these weaknesses, these small efforts in many pockets of Bengal created the basis and heritage which made the formation of PBVM possible. It is to be admitted that if the long tradition and rich experiences of institutions like Bangiya Vigyan Parishad and a good number of science clubs were not there, the emergence of PBVM would not have been possible.
Experience of Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha has been very encouraging. All sections of our population, Scientists & Technologists, Professors & Teachers, Professionals and Doctors, students, Trade Union activists, Kisan activists have come forward at the call of PBVM to develop a strong PSM in the state of West Bengal.
EXPERIENCE OF PASCHIMBANGA VIGYAN MANCHA (PBVM) :
Since inception PBVM has taken up a large number of activists and time based programs linked with the objective of creating, spreading scientific outlook, taking benefits of technology science to the people who are yet to have it even in this age of unprecedented development of S & T. Starting from publication of science books in simple language, issues like conducting children science activities, environment, health for all, self-reliant development in agriculture, energy question technology up gradation for the artisans, low cost housing, samata activities to bring in women within the orbit of peoples’ science movement have been taken up by PBVM. According to the prevailing conditions in their places district units of PBVM fix up the priorities for their programs. In West Bengal, even in districts there is no dearth of resource persons, only problem is to dovetail them with the programs where they suit most. Earlier district units of PBVM had weaknesses in this proper and planned deployment of quality elements for the furtherance of peoples’ science movement, but now they have been able to overcome this particular weakness. A lot of things and issues are there, to be taken up by PBVM as PSM in West Bengal for the cause of development of science awareness among the people. In West Bengal, there is a unique scope and possibility of continuing the science campaign programs with the activities of local self govt. agencies like, Panchayats and Municipalities. These continuations should be attempted at to take peoples’ science movement more & more to the grass root level.
Organizational Structure
Organizational StructurePBVM has got a well democratized structure of organization and runs on participatory method. The State Council is the highest decision making body, which is usually elected during conferences after each three years. State council elects a state committee, which acts on behalf of the council in between its two meetings. State Committee again elects a small secretariat to look after the regular work at the central level and also to monitor day to day organizational responsibilities.In nineteen districts there are district councilor and district committees. Below district committee there are Vigyan Kendra and village, school or college, university and research institution level Vigyan Chakra (unit committee). Also nearly 152 (2006 -2007) Science clubs are affiliated to State-PBVM throughout the state. The entire district, Vigyan Kendra and vigyan Chakra are elected during their respective conferences. Conferences of Vigyan Chakras can only elect their office bearers.Schematically the organizational Structure of PBVM can be given as below:STATE COUNCIL - STATE COMMITTEE - STATE SECRETARIATDISTRICT COUNCIL - DISTRICT COMMITTEE - DISTRICT SECRETARIATVIGYAN KENDRA &VIGYAN CHAKRAState & district committee usually functions through sub committee on different area of activities (Environment, Technology, Application, Health, Science Education, Children Science, Publication, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Women Science and Culture).TOTAL MEMBERSHIP: Statewise: 3,42,589 in 2010-11 session (up to 31st March)
district wise:
STATE SECRETARIAT:
Sankar Chakrabarti President
Sridip Bhattacharya Working President
Arindam Konar Vice-President
Aparajita Basu ,,
Bhabanishankar Joardar ,,
Goutam Roy ,,
Tapan Mishra ,,
Maniruddin Chowdhury ,,
Dipa Sarkar ,,
Debesh Das ,,
Satyajit Chakrabarti General Secretary
Tapan Saha Assistant Secretary
Shyamal Chakraborty ,,
Utpal Dutta ,,
Sankar Kar ,,
Shibani Sinha ,,
Sourav Chakraborty ,,
Aniruddha Das ,,
Arunabha Mishra Treasurer
Srirup Gopal Goswami Office Secretary
Samsujjaman Ahamed Member
Asit Bhowmick ,,
Ashis Lahiri ,,
Chandranath Banerjee ,,
Pradip Mahapatra ,,
Partha Ghosh ,,
Maya Mitra ,,
Kallol Ghosh ,,
Dilip Chakraborty ,,
Rajen Mitra ,,
Nimai Duttagupta ,,
Ashis Ghosh ,,
Onkar Banerjee ,,
Tapan Giri ,,
District Secretariats
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