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Social 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.