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This article provides information about the genesis of people science movement:
The 20th century has made the role of science and technology central to how society works. Not just in production, economics and war but also in sharing public opinion, in defining culture, in politics, in music, in government science plays an important role today.
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The impetus and inspiration for science-based social activism came not from a mere desire for dissemination of information on natural sciences but largely from the disillusionment of concerned intellectuals, mostly in the younger age group, with the official thinking and action in alleviating mass poverty and unemployment and its concomitant degradation of human condition. Groups engaged in science education and dissemination became conscious of the new challenges. From acquiring and disseminating knowledge to applying it with a view to changing society meant the rationalisation of a more active role for the intellectual community than was, understood hitherto.
The people science movement aims at a critical understanding of science. It informs the common people on what science is being done, how and why, i.e., analysing policies, educating people and mobilising public opinion on issues. It further works towards constructing a rational society by explaining natural phenomena using science and countering irrational beliefs ad superstitions. By initiating programmes such as training teachers to use innovative teaching methods, training village women to use health information, training farmers to experiment and use science to improve the soil, etc., mobilising the poorest and putting into practise the promise of science — improving living conditions.
People Science Movements have a history of credible interventions in the area of improving conditions of social groups, often disadvantaged, through science and technology inputs. PSMs are diverse in constitution and organisational form, and in the nature of their activities. Some focus on the unscientific attitudes and policies towards such basic issues as health, while others are engaged in highlighting the adverse impact of development activities as a result of inadequate/wrong application of science and technology in the field of the environment. Still others demonstrate innovative ways of teaching science, the use of scientific knowledge in the area of health, non- formal education, appropriate technology, housing, etc.
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The basic philosophy of the PSM is that Science and Technology (S&T) inputs are essential to achieve the goal of an equitable and sustainable society although such inputs by themselves are not sufficient. The PSM groups believe that the public needs to develop a critical understanding S&T in order to be able to participate in the growth and application of S&T, especially in the choice of technologies in different contexts.
The origin of PSM in India may be traced to the early 1950s when a number of organisations got engaged in activities aimed to create scientific awareness among the general public. The Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), the Marathi Vigyan Parishad, the Assam Science Society and the Banga Vigyan Parishad are the more prominent among them.
They began dissemination of information about science and technology by publishing literature in various Indian languages. Of these, the KSSP in the 1960s and 1970s grew into a mass organisation. A Convention of PSM was held for the first time in India in November 1978 in Trivandrum under the auspices of Kerala Sahitya Sastra Parishad (KSSP).
Since then, there has been an intensification of the interest in initiating a PSM in several parts of the country. The need was then felt for a second convention of PSM, which was hosted by KSSP in Keraia. The concern of the convention was focused on the need to define a PSM, which should form the basis of an all-India perspective so that programmes and activities initiated would have a clear-cut direction and purpose.
Four areas were identified for a future programme of action as the basis for initiating a PSM in the country, (i) Health, (ii) Education, (iii) Environment, (iv) use of Arts as a medium of communication with the people.
After extensive discussion a few common programmes were chalked out one each of these subjects so that joint action could be initiated throughout the country.
Health:
Questions were raised on the relevance and adequacy of the existing health delivery system and hence a people’s health movement should form a crucial component of a PSM. Despite expansion in health services, the actual distribution has an, urban and curative bias.
The objective necessity of joint action at the all-India level, the possibility of involving non-professionals in such action programmes and the availability of resources and manpower for implementation were considered. The convention noted that the role of indigenous medicines as a possible alternative should be scientifically examined. The irrationality of the anti- diarrheal drug combinations should be emphasised and people should and can, be educated on such simple measures as Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) for managing diarrhea. The inter-relationship of diarrhea and unsanitary living conditions, lack of facilities for sewage disposal and above all malnutrition and poverty should be emphasised in such campaigns.
That joint action on health problems specific to women should be taken up was generally felt as highly urgent. A campaign on anaemia in women is a major issue. Propaganda against the irrational anti-anaemic drugs, demand for better medical facilities during pregnancy, prophylactic measures against anaemia and the root cause of anaemia as poverty and the poor socioeconomic condition were highlighted.
Education:
The most burning issue in the field of education was the failure of the Government to implement UPE, which was closely linked to the need of Adult Education. It was decided to emphasise the need for activities aimed at increasing the involvement of teachers in popularising science as well as in discussing problems of education in general.
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The following activities were suggested as being useful in further work:
i. Bringing out magazines for children to popularise science and literature as is done by groups like Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP).
ii. Organising community science centers with a library, workshop, audio-visual facilities and mobile exhibitions.
iii. Use of art and theatre forms as catalytists media for dissemination of PSM ideas.
iv. Field study and surveys of the problems of education to base the initiative and understanding on more firm grounds.
Environment:
Environmental problems can only be understood as an aspect of the broader reality. A scientific analysis of the totality of the interconnections between seemingly unrelated issues is the only viable basis for effective action. The Forest Bill, which gives extensive powers to forest officials, encroaches on the right of the people such as tribals who depend on forests and facilitates the acceleration of the process of deforestation by commercial vested interests. The issue of the Forest Bill is a focal point for people science movements. Not only can it enable them to assist people’s struggles but it can enable the mobilisation of public opinion on a whole range of issues – social forestry, floods, wildlife, drought, etc.
Development projects are carried out without attempting to analyse their impact on the environment. A broad consensus emerged from the discussion on environment:
i. Vested interests benefiting from environmental degradation are actively assisted by the State.
ii. Science is not value-neutral but used to assist vested interests. For instance, forestry science is used to justify deforestation by the forest department.
iii. PSMs must base their views on scientific analysis of problems and vested interests in science.
iv. Conservation of the environment is not-possible unless people’s struggles are channeled to counter the policies of the State and the power of the vested interests.
On the above basis it was argued that joint action be initiated at the national level on:
i. Breaking the communication gap between PSMs, informing each other about problems faced, tactics used and problems encountered;
ii. Circulating policy studies such as the critique of the Forest Bill and studies on occupational safety for wider dissemination;
iii. Exchanging visits;
iv. Producing such other materials for exchange and dissemination; and
v. Forging a united front against the Forest Bill.
Art:
A great deal of discussion took place on using art as a medium of communication with the people. The Uttarakhand Sangharsh Vahini had been using art in its various struggles first against deforestation and similar issues but now embracing all aspects of the people’s struggles. Out of such struggles, songs, poems and plays evolved these sentiments.
It was felt that efforts should be made to exchange not only the experiences but also the performances of different groups using art as a weapon in creating people consciousness. This would not only enrich each other’s efforts but also create a feeling of solidarity amongst people. Through such interchange they could see and understand the linkages between their micro and macro situations. Mutual exchange of visits, translation and adoption of the material used by different groups were viewed as a useful task.