ASRA representative had to leave in between and the representative of state Institute of Science Education also had come in the morning and had discussion with the ROC whereas regarding Friends Library & Punjab Sahitya Kala Manch no information was available.

1)            Dr. (Mrs.) Neelam Gulati Sharma Coordinator ROC chaired the meeting. In the beginning the proceedings of the previous meeting were confirmed as the same were told to all.

Chairperson gave a brief of the purpose of the meeting and placed the agenda that the meeting has been called to review the activities done by various member organizations regarding YSA 2004 including the activities in connection with the launch of YSA in the state of Punjab as presented in the NOC meeting in Chandigarh & also to have a calendar of activity for next three months as per requirement of NOC. It was further told that the decisions of NOC as applicable to the state, are also to be discussed and the modalities of activities by various organizations are to be discussed in light of the provisions made by GOI for each of the activity including the Jatha & Non jatha activities and also the release of funds. As per NOC decision Biodiversity parks have to be established in various districts by involving schools & educational institutions.

1.1) Chairperson told that ROC after constitution of SOC at Ludhiana on 11-7-03 had arranged the training for the organisations for preparation of the projects as decided in Ludhiana meeting. The training was imparted by Dr. Anuj Sinha on 6-8-03 and a meeting of SOC was also held in which the decision to submit the proposals by 14-8-03 was taken. The consolidated proposals were sent to the NOC, after discussing the proposals with SCA and the organizations individually also. She further told that the norms were worked out for the activities according to the level of activity and the level of audience and resource persons, which were circulated to all and were accepted and even the NOC Convener was informed. Then the ROC got the letter on funding pattern and the same was discussed in the 3rd meeting of SOC and all the organizations were asked to give a brief of the activities accordingly, which was given by them. The Chairperson showed her happiness on the very good enthusiasm of the participants for coming to the meeting.

1.2)  The SCA Coordinator gave a brief of the activities done as per the attached note and told that the success of the SCA in compiling the consolidated progress reports and sending the same to the NOC twice and circulation of the Introductory folder of the NOC both in English & Punjabi to a large number of people in the state along with the success in launching of YSA 2004 at 160 places was due to the continued guidance provided by ROC Coordinator & the support provided by her for continued interaction on various matters. He further told that NOC has been a continuous source of encouragement in accepting the suggestions & recognizing the activities for which he expressed his gratitude.

1.3)  SCA coordinator further told that pending the letter from GOI he has prepared a draft letter for sending to all the Financial Commissioners, Secretaries, all the Heads of Departments and all the district heads for sending to all the Financial Commissioners, Secretaries, all the Heads of Departments and all the district heads for extending support to YSA as an introduction to YSA through the introductory folder with the help and support of ROC. He informed that the DGP has sent the letter accepting to extend the support and has asked the kind of support we need. SOC appreciated the gesture and thanked the DSP for prompt action on the request of the SCA.

2)            All the participants were asked to present the reports and their comments.

2.1)   Representative of BJGVJ told that they had received all types of information and with continued interaction had informed about the progress made by them and Dr. Mitra had been very prompt in providing the resource material on effects of nuclear reactions on health in the form of an article by Sh. Vishnu Bhagwat Vice Admiral. They assured to carry out the activities as planned.

2.2)  Dr. Vikas Kohli of Indian Council for Environmental Education- Launched YSA 2004 at Saint Vivekanand Public School Bhabat Disst. Patiala on NSD 28-2-04. Competition of debate, painting and declamation on the issue of water were held at DAV School Chandigarh where the children from adjoining parts of Punjab also participated. He was asked to concentrate the activities of YSA in Punjab as Chandigarh has a separate project. He also gave a list of the tentative persons who can be on district committees.

2.3)  Dr. S.C. Gupta- launched YSA on 28-2-04 at Naloyan and report along with the press report has been sent. He further told that the club will undertake the activities as planned and shall broad base the same.

2.4) Sh. Ajay Kumar of Green Express Club - launched the YSA on 28-2-04 and the reporting was done press release by Dr. S.C. Gupta appeared in a paper and the same was sent to Coordinator.

2.5)  Sh. S.C. Bhutta from literacy campaign Nawan Shehar - launched YSA on NSD at 5 places, details sent and in the continued activities under YSA further organized the same in 20 places till date. Gave a list of Kala Jatha Volunteers.

2.6)  Sh. Jupiter Sharma of Pt. Dhan Raj SWS - launch of YSA at Bugra village on NSD and has also attended the meeting of DOC Sangrur on 27-4-04. He told that he was involved in vermicompost and SHG's reports sent.

2.7)  Sh. Tirath Ram Bhatia of BGVS Nawan Shehar - YSA was launched on NSD at 7 places by holding lectures and functions and the activity is being continued by the distribution of the folder and explaining the aims and objects of the programmes.

2.8)  Sh. Balwinder Singh Dhatt of BGVS Hoshiarpur - YSA activities launched by BGVS volunteers at 58 places in the District as a resoult of the continued efforts of DOC which held meetings of Science Teachers and worked out the action plan. The launch activities were in the form of marches, lectures, exhibitions, compitions and melas on the theme of YSA. Being carried further with the help of Zila Sakharate Samiti to the neoliterates and wall writing with slogans coined by BGVS has been planned.

2.9)  Sh. Surjit Talwar of Rationalist Society Punjab - talked to groups in sahit sabha and marriages about YSA and later did popular science writing in monthly and weekly papers and of late the same by Sonia Talwar have appeared in Punjabi Tribune. Launched YSA by distributing and explaining the folders to 10 science masters of various schools attended DOC meeting on 27-4-04. Sub Committee on the six themes constituted.

2.10) Sh. Shadi Ram Kapoor - launched YSA at 12 Nodal Continuing Education Centers for the neoloterates and others. Wall writing with slogans started.

2.11) Dr. Paramjit Singh of BGVS - DOCs of Faridkot, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Moga, Mukatsar, Nawan Shehar and Rup Nagar districts launced YSA at more than 160 places and sent proformas signed by many persons.

        The Punjabi versions of the introductory folder of NOC has been done. Prepared 12 booklets on YSA and 12 on activity corner by school children. Material on soil, health and pest management has been selected even by NOC and the original text for other languages has been sent to them. Kala jatha volunteers are being identified. Booklets on Biodiversity and Disaster management are under preparation. Introductory booklet on Vipnet Clubs translated.

The folder has been explained to ADC Bhatinda, and the zila Sakhrata Samiti Organizers.  Sh. Attarjit Singh a known Punjabi writer has been personally contacted and he who is already running a book exhibition on wheels has given his consent to support YSA.

The folder has been explained to DSS Gurdaspur and also to the organizers of literacy campaign in the district's action plan has been explained to about 60 Key Resource persons in the district level workshop of literacy held on 5th and 6th of April.

In district Kapurthala the details of YSA discussed with the literacy team and they have constituted the DOC and have fixed the Tehsil wise meetings for YSA. The Science Teachers Association of District Jallandhar has held a meeting ouver YSA. The Science Teachers Association of district Fatehgarh Sahib has also held discussions on the themes of YSA due to untiring efforts of sh. Raj Kumar Garg Principal Govt. SSS Kauhrian district Sangrur.

Sh. Surinder Kumar Jindal has prepared a quiz for YSA and has been asked to take up activities in Patiala district and has been provided the folders both in English and Punjabi. Regular meetings of the DOCs have been held in most of the districts. The DOCs have been constituted after holding the meetings of the activists. As suggested by Sh. Manmohan Sharma, Dr. Paramjit Singh submitted a written report.

2.12) Sh. Manmohan Sharma of VHAP - the folder has been distributed in district Fatehgarh Sahib. He further appreciated the efforts of the SCA in sending prompt communications to various quarters and all concurred with his observation.

3)            Dr. P.L. Garg told the participants that the bond on behalf of the SCA has been sent by him however similar bond will have to be given by all the organizations who get funds for their organization for YSA.

3.1)  Dr. (Mrs.) Neelam Gulati sharma told all the members that in the State of Punjab there are 72 Talukas (Tahsils). Activity Corners shall be held in all the Tehsils. In each Tehsil one set of 6 corners spreading over three days shall be held in 6 different schools situated at a distant of 5-10 km. Thus in total 72*6=432 shcools shall be covered under it and as provided under the finances each Tehsil shall get Rs. 22,000/- for one set of 6 schools.

If all the 6 corners cannot be held in one school then adjoining schools can be involved Dr. (Mrs.) Neelam Gulati Sharma suggested that under this head the children can be taken for visit to places of study tours like Kurukushetra Science Museum or other places like PAU/National level children festival.

3.2)  Quiz Competitions are also to be held at Tehsil level and the support is Rs.3000/- for which mainly the SISE will be involved.

3.3)  Similarly Lecture cum Demonstration shall be held at 72 Tehsils and the experts shall be of University/Medical College/Engineering College level/District/Tehsil head of the concerned subject. Assistance is Rs. 4200/- per set of 3-4 lectures.

3.4)  In case of Panchayat training Rs. 12000/- per district are provided for four training camps per district of one day each at the rate of Rs. 3000/- per camp (3000*4=12000)

3.5)  Quiz shall be Computer based wherever the facility is available. She further told that one organization has given her a good programme for activity corner which is being studied for use. The trained manpower generated by PSCST can be used as resource persons.

3.6)  As per decision of the NOC it was decided that the SCA shall contact the Authorities for moving a resolution for enactment on water harvesting making it compulsory.

3.7)  Decided that all the organizations shall send their calendar of activity with details of the time place duration level nature of activity and the resource persons to the SCA by the 15th of May.

3.8)  The SCA & ROC shall allot the activities as per decision already taken and it was agreed unanimously that their decision would be final.

3.9)   ROC told that as per guidelines the constitution of DOCs is a pre condition for release of funds for any of the districts where activity is to be done.

3.10) It was decided that the organizations taking up Non Jatha activity in a district will have to make arrangement for the performance of the Jatha including the stay and food by local mobilization at that point if Jatha visits that place as for jatha movement and performance at 170 places including all expenditure there is a provision of only Rs. 212500/- for all the teams for the continuous movement of 30 days so it was advised that the organizations should prepare their proposals accordingly.

3.11) It was also decided that a state level workshop for three days should be held by the end of May or whenever resource material is available in which 5 organizers/ activists from each district shall participate who can further hold district level workshops to train 30-50 persons in the district. BGVS has been given the duty to arrange the same and the funds shall be taken out of other activities on proportionate basis.

3.12) In addition there shall be workshops for jatha, activity corner, and Panchayat training.

3.13) Punjab shall try to prepare a module for Panchayat training and for activity corners also.

4)            Sh. Manmohan Sharma offered to give books free of cost which included the memories of Sh. Ruchi Ram Sahani, Samudayak Sehat Pustak, set of 5 booklets in child to child readers series, another set of 7 booklets in better care series and 5 booklets on other topics, (as per list attached) from his organization which may be used as resource material or some prizes.

5)            It was decided that in next three months DOCs shall be completed.

5.1)   State resource persons and District level resource persons shall be in position

5.2)   State level Workshops shall be completed.

5.3)   District level workshops shall be held.

5.4)   District level conventions shall be held.

5.5)  Wall writing on the themes of YSA through slogans coined by  BGVS shall be done

5.6)  School activity corners shall be started in July.

5.7)  Because of vacation in schools the activities shall be done at public places.

5.8)  Panchayat training module will be translated in Punjabi.

6)             However it was felt that the condition of vetting the material at National level is likely to cause extreme delays and the way to avoid this duplication is to produce the material in various languages at national level.

7)             It was decided that the SOC be expanded by taking those present who are not the members already as members/special invitees.

8)            The suggestions made by Dr. Garg that some important persons who are academicians or administrators may be requested to be on the state advisory committee for YSA was accepted unanimously and SCA & ROC were given the right decide the same.

9)            Meeting ended with a vote of thanks to all present and the chair.

Dr. P.L. Garg

2-5-2004