DA ENVIS
Environmental Information
System (ENVIS) Centre # 4 was established in 1984 at Development
Alternatives (DA), New Delhi with the mandate of dissemination
information on the subject area - Environmentally Sound Appropriate
Technologies and Sustainable Livelihoods. The centre disseminates
information on the effective use of technology for sustainable national
development and has built a comprehensive information base on matters
related to the subject area.
Over the last 25 years, this
centre has been providing a platform for various knowledge-related
activities on the subject area and has evolved methodologies for
information dissemination activities. The centre was the first to
provide the ERNET service in 1995 and has also brought out the first
electronic product – the NGO directory in 1998. DA ENVIS was among the
first centres to graduate to the Internet and automate its library. A
dedicated website for the centre was developed and launched in 2003. A
quarterly newsletter has been brought out regularly from 2008 onwards
and the website has been upgraded technically and is interactive in its
use.
Silver Jubilee Celebrations
This year, the ENVIS centre of
Development Alternatives completed its 25 years of existence along with
six other centres, namely, Indian Institute of Science, Central
Pollution Control Board, The Energy Resource Institute, National
Institute of Occupational Health, Indian Institute of Science, and
Industrial Toxicology Research Centre.
A one-day seminar organised by
the World Wide Fund India and sponsored by the Ministry of Environment
and Forests, Government of India was held on October 27, 2009. The
keynote address was made by the Dr Nilkanth Ghosh, Statistical Advisor,
MoEF and souvenirs were presented to all the seven centres. The first
session began with a brief presentation on the work profiles and
activities of the seven centres in the last 25 years. The second session
was titled ‘Role of Environment Information System in Mainstreaming
Environment for Policy Making and Planning’. Three presentations were
made and the seminar was concluded up with discussions on the future
prospects of the ENVIS network.
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