FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
- Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar: In 1987, Ministry of Environment and Forests instituted this award. Award comprises two prizes of Rs.5,00,000/- each under “Organization Category” and three prizes of Rs.5,00,000/—, Rs.3,00,000/- and Rs.2,00,000/- each under “Individual Category”. Each awardee is given a Silver Lotus Trophy, scroll and Citation. The award is given annually.
- Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Awards: These were instituted in 1986 to recognize the pioneering and innovative contribution made by individuals and institutions in the field of afforestation/wasteland development every year.
- Pitamber Pant National Environment Fellowship: Instituted in 1978, it is awarded every year to encourage and recognize excellence in any branch of research related to the environmental sciences.
- P. Pal National Environment Fellowship for Biodiversity: Instituted during 1993 and is awarded annually with a view to further develop, deepen and strengthen the expertise on biodiversity available in the country.
- National Awards for Prevention of Pollution and Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology: Given each year in the identified categories of highly polluting industries which have made a significant contribution towards development or use of clean technologies that prevent pollution and find innovative solution to environmental problems.
- Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Conservation Award: Given annually for significant contribution in the field of wildlife conservation which has made a major impact on the protection and conservation of wildlife in the country.
- Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award: It is given for significant contribution in the field of wildlife protection, which is recognised as having shown exemplary courage or having done exemplary work for the protection of wildlife.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (ENVIS)
- Since its inception in 1982-83 (Sixth Plan) ENVIS has served the interests of policy formulation and environment management by providing scientific, technical and semi-technical information on various environmental issues.
- ENVIS network at present consists of a chain of 68 centres. These centres are hosted by notable organizations/ institutions / state / UT government departments / universities throughout the country.
- The focal point of ENVIS is located in the Ministry and assists the EI Division in coordinating the activities of all ENVIS network partners.
INDIAN STATE LEVEL BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DATABASE (ISBEID)
- In order to develop database on environment and its related parameters, a web-enabled application ISBEID was developed in collaboration with NIC to help the ENVIS centres to collect, compile and disseminate information on a centralised server.
- The developments of the system are based on a pilot project conducted in two States (Odisha and Madhya Pradesh) with 6 modules of the proposed 23 modules, which was extended to 7 more states with 6 additional modules.
- Based on its results, it was decided to reduce the 23 modules down to 17 in consultation with the ENVIS Centres and to extend ISBEID to all States / UTs.
