Guwahati: National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) has supported a programme entitled “Learning for Cogent Living” conceptualized by a regional NGO of Assam, Society for Socio-economic Awareness and Environment Protection (SSEAEP), aimed at helping the population lead a rational life with better understanding about science, technology and environment, out of the sphere of superstitious practices.
The approach of the project is in tune with principle of Science & Technology Literacy (STL) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
The council said that since the North-eastern region of India is located in an ecological sensitive zone with rich biodiversity along ethno-cultural diversity, the people of the region face different constrains in daily life due to its environmental situation ranging from erosion, landslide, flood, thunderstorm, as well as anomalies of weather and climate. Such phenomenon along with other geo-ecological base poses constrains of drinking water, drainage, agricultural failure, health related problems etc.
The council therefore said that in this context, developing Science and Technology Literacy (STL) among the people is the need of the hour along with other interventions.
As per the mandate of the project, the SSEAEP has initiated a study in the region adopting two approaches, one is content analysis of print media coverage of last five years (1999-2013) from the region on S&T issues and superstition and the other is a field level location specific study and opinion assessment of the local people of the different states of NE, with guidance and collaboration with State S&T Council and NGO’s.
From this field level study backgrounds report will be prepared based on which a regional workshop will be organized with participation of resource person from eight states to design and develop communication packages and module.
Following that there will be state level workshop in each state in North East to train local level resource persons. This will be followed by pilot-trial run of campaign and intervention in location specific area. Based on the feedback and impact assessment of this trial run a customized package will be developed for STL initiatives in the region, which will be open for use to any interested organization and institution of the region.
SSEAEP has already carried out a field level study in Assam (going on), in Nagaland and Manipur with North East Institute of Health and Sanitation (NEIHS).
Last week, a similar study was started in Meghalaya with State Science, Technology and Environment Council of Meghalaya (SSTECM). As part of the study there was an interaction with 22 teachers from different districts of Meghalaya on July 24 at the Science Museum, NEHU and another interaction and opinion assessment exercise with degree level student at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, and a village level study in villages like Mowphlung, Lyngkyrdem, Massar, Laitlyngkot, Mawblang, Maweit, etc.
A team of researcher from SSEAEP and SSTECM involved in the process in Meghalaya is led by the coordinator of the project, Jayanta Kr Sarma.
According to Sarma, similar studies will soon be carried out in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram and Tripura. There is plan to complete the background study within September and organize the regional workshop at the end of October.
He said that many superstitious practices are found related to health issues, scarcity of quality drinking water, weather related phenomenon .
“So there is need of capacity building among the people regarding water purification, indoor environment management , improvisation tools, developing understanding of environmental phenomenon, improvisation and reinterpretation of positive aspects of traditional practices related with natural resource management,’ Sarma said.
