The National Evaluation Workshop on Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Centres was held on 5th & 6thApril, 2010. The event was organised by Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology, and supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India at Mayfair Spa & Resorts, Ranipool. More than hundred (100) participants from various national institutions and State Governments participated in the workshop to discuss in detail the further strengthening of Environmental Information System in the country.
The inaugural session on the first day i.e. 5th April 2010 was chaired by,
i. The Chief Guest Shri. B.P. Dhungel, Honourable Minister,
(Tourism Department, Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Mines, Minerals & Geology Department and Science & Technology and Climate Change Department, Government of Sikkim)
ii.Shri. M.L. Arrawatia, IFS
(Secretary, Department of Science & Technology and Climate Change , Government of Sikkim)
iii.Shri. S T Lachungpa IFS
(PCCF cum Secretary, Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim)
iv. Shri. Nilkanth Ghosh,
(Statistical Advisor, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government Of India)
v. Smt. Madhumita Biswas,
(Joint Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government Of India )
After the registration of all the participants and ushering of the guests and the participants the inaugural session was marked off by welcome address by Shri D.T Bhutia, Sr. Scientific Officer, Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology and Coordinator, ENVIS Centre Sikkim on Ecotourism and khadas and bouquet were offered to the members on the dais respectively. The lighting of the inaugural lamp by the hon’ble Chief Guest Shri B.P. Dhungel marked off the inauguration of the event. Shri Nilkanth Ghosh, Statistical advisor, MoEF on his keynote address congratulated the Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology for organising such an event of a national magnitude in so short a time and highlighted on the main objectives of the event. Shri M.L Arrawatia, IFS, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology in his address thanked MoEF for choosing Sikkim as the venue for such an event and gave an insight on the role played by the ENVIS Centres towards simplifying the information dissemination process in the country. He also proposed on permanency and better facilities to the ENVIS staffs towards smooth functioning and sustainability of the ENVIS Centres in the country. The Chief Guest Shri B.P Dhungel, Hon’ble Minister, Tourism Dept, Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Mines, Minerals & Geology Department and Science & Technology and Climate Change Department appreciated the role played by the ENVIS Centre’s towards generating awareness on environment in an era when climate change and other environmental issues has been a serious threat to mankind. He also gave an insight on the initiatives of the State towards environmental protection. Smt Madhumita Biswas, Joint Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government Of India on her vote of thanks speech thanked the chief guest for his participation inspite of his busy schedule, the participants for making up to the event inspite of certain constraints, the press fraternity for the cov This was followed by tea break after which technical session started. The technical session for the subject specific centres was held in Teesta hall and that of state specific on Magnolia hall. As presentations were delivered one after the other, the expert members reviewed on each ENVIS Centres and gave their valuable suggestions and recommendations. With lunch and tea breaks in between, the presentations continued to the next day. To sum up the presentations a lecture on web security was delivered by Shri. Sanjay Gahlout, DDG, NIC, Government of India, N.Delhi and a presentation on financial matters for ENVIS centres by Mr. Ashok Bansal, (Under Secretary, IFD,MoEF). The workshop was summed up by a session with members of the Ministry and the participants with a discussion on the contraints, issues and problems faced by the ENVIS centres and ways to resolve them. Finally a vote of thanks by Sr.Scientific Officer, Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology concluded the programme with a photo session and tea break in the end.erage of the event and the organisers for smooth management of the event.