Information, Education & Communication (IEC)
Catalysing participatory management of biodiversity knowledge, nurturing barefoot ecologists, conducting experiential school programmes, producing documentary films, and delivering grassroots communication tools across Maharashtra.
Biodiversity Learning in Schools, Barefoot Ecologists & Media
The IEC theme served as the vital bridge connecting specialized scientific research with rural school children, women's self-help groups, and grassroots community workers across all 15 partner organisations. Key interventions included creating experiential biodiversity field investigation kits (Pitaras), publishing the periodic Gotul community newsletter, and mentoring students to document local agro-ecosystems.
School project curriculum ideas tested
Rural & tribal schools actively involved
In-depth student projects completed
Documentary films & videos produced
Shivar Feri Handbook & Dietary Diversity Study
The project authored and published Shivar Feri, an acclaimed handbook guiding school teachers and Gram Panchayats on how to conduct structured seasonal biodiversity walks and register observations into village biodiversity registers.
A milestone socio-ecological investigation tracked dietary diversity changes across three generations in 152 rural households, demonstrating how the disappearance of wild uncultivated edible greens (Ranbhajya) directly impacted micro-nutrient resilience.
Implementing Partner (Phase 1): Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Pune • Supported by all 15 MGBP Grassroots NGO & Academic Consortium Partners
Digital Citizen Science, Mobile Video Caravans & State Curriculum
Phase 2 focuses on mainstreaming biodiversity education into the state secondary school curriculum, creating open-access digital modules on the central Maharashtra Gene Bank portal, deploying mobile interactive science exhibitions in aspirational tribal districts, and establishing community-level audio-visual recording studios.
School PBR Curriculum
Partnering with SCERT to integrate village biodiversity monitoring directly into student environmental science projects.
Citizen Science App
Multilingual mobile recording tool allowing farmers and students to upload georeferenced species observations to IISER Pune.
Barefoot Ecologist Academy
Certificate courses for rural youth in participatory mapping, taxonomy verification, and BMC documentation.
Coordination & Scientific Oversight: Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission • IISER Pune Coordination Cell • School Education Department & Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board