RCE Chandigarh

Date of RCE Acknowledgement:
January, 2012

Description of RCE and Geographic Region:
RCE Chandigarh network was initiated by Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST). Initially, PSCST as a lead agency had established linkages and partnership with 27 institutions and over the years, it has widened its network to over 200 institutions. The partners include Educational institutions, State departments / agencies, R&D bodies, farmers’ associations, women SHGs, industrial associations, CBOs and NGOs.
RCE Chandigarh network is geographically located in Chandigarh (Union Territory), the capital of Punjab, which is in Northern part of India. The operational area of RCE is Chandigarh & state of Punjab having semiarid to sub-humid climatic conditions.
Most of the Punjab lies in a fertile, alluvial plain with many rivers and an extensive irrigation canal system. A belt of undulating hills called Shivalik Foothill range, extends along the north-eastern part of the state at foot of Himalayas. Its average elevation is 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level, with a range from 180 metres (590 ft) in the southwest to more than 500 metres (1,600 ft) around the northeast border. The southwest of the state is semiarid, eventually merging into the Thar Desert.

Photo cr: RCE Chandigarh

Organisation Hosting RCE Secretariat:
Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (Autonomous Body of Government of Punjab)

Goals and Objective:
Vision:
Small steps at local level ing to giant leaps at global level.
Goals:
To ress diverse issues of Sustainable Development with Science & Technology as tool through partnership & linkages at formal, non-formal & informal level
To create awareness, undertake capacity building & participatory activities to promote ESD for adoption of sustainable ways & life-styles at local/regional level
Objectives:
The major thrust of RCE Chandigarh is to collaborate & establish linkages to reorient existing programmes to ress sustainable development, develop public understanding and awareness about ESD & provide training programmes for all sectors of society.
RCE Chandigarh is working towards its vision, goal and objectives by communicating ESD through capacity building activities (by special ESD sessions during workshops), Public outreach activities (celebration of environmentally important days, seminars, trainings, orientation programmes, workshops, conferences, etc.), publications & ICT activities, and by undertaking projects / study / research & development activities for sustainable development in the region.

Photo cr: RCE Chandigarh

Key Partners:
Name of organisation: Punjab State Council for Science & Technology
Role: Lead Agency
Contact name: Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora
Contact email: jkarora20@rediffmail.com
Name of organisation: Punjab Biodiversity Board
Role: Expert Partner
Contact name: Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora
Contact email: jkarora20@rediffmail.com
Name of organisation: Technology Facilitation Division
Role: Active partner
Contact name: Mr. Pritpal Singh
Contact email: pritpal.pscst@gmail.com
Name of organisation: Punjab State Innovation Council
Role: Active partner
Contact name: Dr. Dapinder Bakhshi
Contact email: dapinderbakshi@rediffmail.com
Name of organisation: Directorate of Environment & Climate Change
Role: Active partner
Contact name: Mr. Pardeep Garg
Contact email: garg_pardeep@rediffmail.com