इस ब्लॉग्स को सृजन करने में आप सभी से सादर सुझाव आमंत्रित हैं , कृपया अपने सुझाव और प्रविष्टियाँ प्रेषित करे , इसका संपूर्ण कार्य क्षेत्र विश्व ज्ञान समुदाय हैं , जो सभी प्रतियोगियों के कॅरिअर निर्माण महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान देगा ,आप अपने सुझाव इस मेल पत्ते पर भेज सकते हैं - chandrashekhar.malav@yahoo.com
Video / Interactive Mode of Tutorial
Environmental information system (ENVIS)
P- 05. Information Sources, Systems and Services *
By :R Arora,Paper Coordinator
Video / Interactive Mode of Tutorial
MODULE 35: ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
(ENVIS)
Content Writer/Author - Dr. M. NATARAJAN
Email Id - natarajan@niscair.res.in
Structure of Module/Syllabus of module(Define Topic of Module and its subtopics)
Environmental
information system
(ENVIS)
History, Definition, ENVIS in India, Environmental information
system, Objectives, Services.
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE MODULE
Description of the Module
Subject Name Library and Information Science
Paper Name Information Sources, Systems and Services
Module Name/Title Environmental information system (ENVIS)
Module Id LIS/ISSS/35
Pre-requisites Awareness of environment, Environmental information
system, Awareness by Government and it’s implementation
Objectives To study the need, sources and environmental information
system in libraries
Keywords Environment, Environmental Management, RSC, NFP,
INFOTERRA , ENVIS
2. OBJECTIVES
After reading this module, you will be able to:
Get acquainted with the role of environmental information in modern society;
Understand the need for environmental information systems;
Identify the nodes and objectives of ENVIS;
Explain the role and responsibilities of ENVIS; and
Highlight the present status of ENVIS in India.
3. INTRODUCTION
For our present and future well-being, maintenance of the natural environment is vital.
Our atmosphere, landscapes, oceans, water and biodiversity play an important role in
this regard. In order to manage this natural capital responsibly, governments, industry
and the community need comprehensive, trusted and timely environmental information.
Good information is essential for us to make sound decisions, individually and
collectively, about the major issues affecting our natural assets. Improving the quality
and coverage of India's environmental information is being led by the Indian
Government through the Ministry of Environment and Forests which is responsible for
the Environment Information System (ENVIS), the national information system for 2
Environmental Information. This initiative brings together all efforts in national
environmental information, building and maintaining this critical information infrastructure
for the future.
Efforts to make available environment information have been going on at international
level too. The publication of Raachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” (Carson 1962) is
considered be the starting point for the modern, late 20th century environmental
movement. In this modern environmental movement, information and information
systems play an intriguing role. In the years and decades that followed, environmental
information and the computerised systems that store it – Environmental Information
Systems (EIS) – continued to evolve and to grow outside the limelight. By the end o the
decade the US Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) –
another milestone in the history of environmental politics (McCormick 1995). The two
main implementation vehicles established were an annual report on the state of the
environment and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), both of which can be
interpreted as information tools.
In this Module we bring you a brief overview of the the Environment Information System
(ENVIS), the national information system for Environmental Information.
4. DEFINING ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
‘Environmental Information’ means any information in written, visual, aural, electronic or
any other material form on:
a) The state of elements of the environment, such as air and atmosphere, water,
soil, land, landscape and natural sites, biological diversity and its components,
including genetically modified organisms and the interaction among these
elements.
b) Factors such as substances, energy, noise and radiation and activities or
measures, including administrative measures, environmental agreements,
policies, plans and programmes, affecting or likely to affect the elements of the
environment within the scope of subparagraph (a) above, and cost-benefit and
other economic analyses and assumptions used in environmental decisionmaking.
c) The state of human health and safety, conditions of human life, cultural sites and
built structures, in as much as they are or may be affected by the state of the
elements of the environment or, through these elements, by the factors, activities
or measures referred to in subparagraph (b) above.
5. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEM IN INDIA
The UN Conference on Environment in 1972, at Stockholm, warned the world about the
forthcoming danger in the area of environment and also established the fact that
environment and development are two sides of the same coin. The environment has
become a global issue. Different disciplines of knowledge are now studying environment
and its related issues. India, a large and old civilisation, has inherited a vast area with a
variety of flora and fauna. It is one of the largest reservoirs of bio-diversity, along with
other natural resources. To preserve and sustain such precious resources, scholars and 3
missionaries are trying to understand the environment and its related issues. The
information generated all over the world is very important for these scholars. There is a
need to develop a network using the latest technologies and share the wealth of
information. Various steps have been taken in this direction by the Government of India
and by other institutions with the help of World Bank under its Environmental
Management and Capacity Building Programme. At the Government level, the Ministry
of Environment and Forests of Government of India established Environmental
Information Systems (ENVIS) centres across the subcontinent to act as communication
bridges to reach out to the masses. The basic premise was to empower people through
the powerful tool of information by evolving decentralized information paradigms and
make them sensitive towards environment.
Realising the importance of Environmental Information, the Government of India, in
December, 1982, established an Environmental Information System (ENVIS) as a plan
programme. The focus of ENVIS since inception has been on providing environmental
information to decision makers, policy planners, scientists and engineers, research
workers, etc. all over the country. As environment is a broad-ranging, multi-disciplinary
subject, a comprehensive information system on environment would necessarily involve
effective participation of concerned institutions/organisations in the country that are
actively engaged in work relating to different subject areas of environment. ENVIS has,
therefore, developed itself with a network of such participating institutions/organisations
for the programme to be meaningful. A large number of nodes, known as ENVIS
Centres, have been established in the network to cover the broad subject areas of
environment with a Focal Point in the Ministry of Environment & Forests. Both the Focal
Point as well as the ENVIS Centres have been assigned various responsibilities to
achieve the Long-term and Short-term objectives. For this purpose, various services
have been introduced by the Focal Point.
6. WHAT IS ENVIS?
ENVIS is a decentralised system with a network of distributed subject oriented centres
ensuring integration of national efforts in environmental information collection, collation,
storage, retrieval and dissemination to all concerned. Presently the ENVIS network
consists of Focal Point at the Ministry of Environment and Forests and ENVIS Centres
setup in different organisations/establishments in the country in selected areas of
environment. These Centres have been set up in the areas of pollution control, toxic
chemicals, central and offshore ecology, environmentally sound and appropriate
technology, bio-degradation of wastes and environment management, etc. ENVIS focal
point ensures integration of national efforts in environmental information collection,
collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination to all concerned.
6.1 ENVIS-Nodes
To strengthen ENVIS in disseminating information pertaining to environment and
sustainable development, ENVIS India is in the process of establishing Eighty Five
ENVIS Nodes by involving Organizations, institutions, Universities and Government
departments working in diverse areas of environment.
ENVIS India has already established 81 partner nodes, which include 30 government
departments, 36 Institutions and 15 NGOs. These nodes are supposed to create
websites on specific environment related subject areas.
The responsibility of the ENVIS Centres and Nodes are: 4
Establishment of linkages with all information sources, and creation of data bank
on selected parameters in the subject area assigned,
Identification of information gaps,
Publication of newsletters and bulletins, and
Development of library facilities and providing support to the focal point on the
subject area.
Most importantly these centres serve as interface for the users on the assigned subject.
6.2 Responsibilities
Both the Focal Point as well as the ENVIS Centres have been assigned various
responsibilities. The broad responsibilities of the Focal Point and ENVIS Centres are as
under:
a. Focal Point
- Overall coordination of ENVIS network;
- Identification of ENVIS Centres in specialised areas, their location in
selected institutes/organisations and their linkage with the Focal Point;
- farming guidelines and uniform designing procedures for ENVIS Centres;
- Collection, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information on areas in
which ENVIS Centres have not been established and in some general areas
of environment like environmental research, environmental policy and
management, environmental legislation, environmental impact assessment,
etc.;
- responding to user queries directly or through the ENVIS Centres;
- Establishment of Data Bank containing data on some selected parameters,
and computerisation in important application areas of environment;
- Identification of data gaps and knowledge gaps in specified subject areas
and action to fill these gaps;
- Liaison with relevant International Information Systems and other national
information systems;
- Publication of a quarterly abstracting journal Paryavaran Abstracts;
- Bringing out various other publications on current awareness services;
- Organising training and seminars;
- Monitoring and reviewing of ENVIS; and
- Assisting the Scientific Advisory Committee of ENVIS with inputs and
rendering other secretarial help.
b. Responsibilities of ENVIS Centres
- Building up a good collection of books, reports and journals in the particular
subject area of environment;
- Establishment of linkages with all information sources in the particular
subject area of environment;
- Responding to user queries; 5
- Establishment of a data bank on some selected parameters relating to the
subject area;
- Coordination with the Focal Point for supplying relevant, adequate and
timely information to the users;
- Helping the Focal Point in gradually up an inventory of information material
available at the Centre; identification of information gaps in the specified
subject areas and action to fill these gaps; and
- Bringing out newsletters/publications in their subject area for wider
dissemination.
7. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
ENVIS is a decentralized computerized network database system consisting of the focal
point located in the Ministry and a chain of network partners, known as ENVIS Centres
located in the potential organizations/institutions throughout the country. In order to
develop ENVIS network as a comprehensive distributed environmental information
network system, the ambit of ENVIS was extended to cover all the States/UTs of the
country. The purpose of the ENVIS Centres is to cater to the needs of the people
requiring environment related information, who do not have access to highly equipped
libraries and network systems.
7.1 Objectives of ENVIS
The objectives of ENVIS are classified into two broad categories- long-term and shortterm
objectives.
The long-term objectives of ENVIS are as follows:
a. To build up a repository and dissemination centre in Environmental Science and
Engineering;
b. To gear up the modern technologies of acquisition, processing, storage, retrieval
and dissemination of environmental information; and
c. To support and promote research, development and innovation in environment
information technology.
The short-term objectives are as follows:
a. To provide national environmental information service relevant to present needs
and capable of development to meet the future needs of the users, originators,
processors and disseminators of information;
b. To build up storage, retrieval and dissemination capabilities with the ultimate
objectives of disseminating information speedily to the users;
c. To promote national and international co-operation and liaison for exchange of
environment related information; and
d. To promote exchange of information amongst the developing countries.
7.2 Classification of ENVIS Centres located in the Country6
ENVIS is a decentralised network consisting of a focal point in the Ministry coordinating
the activities of a chain of 67 subject-specific centres located in various prestigious
institutions/organisations all over the country. As on March 25, 2014, these are:
a) Centres set up in State Government Departments 27
b) Centres positioned in National Institutions/Organisations 26
c) Centres located in Non-Governmental Organisations 14
7.3 Present Status
Both the Focal Point and ENVIS Centres in their assigned subject-areas are developing
the requisite databases on identified parameters in order to disseminate information
concerning their subject-areas to the user concerned. Besides, the Centres are also
developing their resources of information in the form of books, periodicals, dissertation,
thesis and various other such documentary information package to collate the necessary
information in their assigned subject-areas to develop the database and to disseminate
it. The system as a whole, responds to more than 15000 such queries in a particular
year. Besides, each ENVIS Centre also publishes newsletters, journals, abstracts, state
of art reports, etc., as printed information package for dissemination as and when
required to all concerned.
ENVIS Centres set up all over the country have been building up a vast collection of
books, reports and journals in the particular subject area of specialisation pertaining to
environment. Responding to user queries, development of data banks on some selected
parameters relating to the subject area, initiation of action to fill these gaps and
dissemination of information to the users is the most vital component in the whole
system.
The ENVIS Focal Point has also developed a comprehensive interactive website for
online coordination with all its network partners as well as dissemination of information
to the users whenever required. In order to assist the State ENVIS Centres to produce
the State of Environment report, the focal point of ENVIS has developed a
comprehensive database with GIS interface known as Indian State Level Basic
Environmental Information Database (ISBEID) on 17 modules in various subject areas of
environment and its associated fields which are quite relevant to the State ENVIS
Centres.
Based on the functions of the ENVIS, it has been designated as a National Focal Point
(NFP) and a Regional Service Centre (RSC) of INFOTERRA of UNEP for the South Asia
sub-region, a global environmental information network which stimulates and support
exchange of information within and between the nations. Almost all member countries of
United Nations are partners of this network.
7.4 Publications
The Focal Point publishes a quarterly newsletter known as ENVIRO NEWS of the
Ministry disseminating information on policies amendment of rules and acts,
international treaties and conventions, environmental clearances, etc. undertaken by the
Ministry from time to time. A quarterly journal known as Paryavaran Abstracts reporting
environmental research in Indian context is also published by the Focal Point of ENVIS
7.5 Services Offered by ENVIS
The various services offered by ENVIS are:
Query Answer Services
Referral Services
Abstracting Services
- Publication of Paryavaran Abstracts
Documentation Services
o Publication of Annual Report
o Publication of ENVIRO NEWS
Development of Databases
7.6 Other Activities
The Ministry’s website has also been developed by ENVIS Focal Point and
updated regularly to disseminate online information to all concerned.
The Information and Facilitation Counter set up by the Ministry as per the
directives of DOPT is also coordinated by ENVIS Focal Point.
The Library of the Ministry which is one of the scientific libraries in the field of
environment and having more than 250 national and international journals is also
coordinated by the ENVIS for its development, resource management and
creation of information resources.
The functioning of the entire ENVIS network is monitored by regional workshops,
national workshops and through a Scientific Advisory Committee under the
chairmanship of Secretary (E&F) to evaluate and to provide necessary mid-term
corrections and guidelines to ENVIS and its network partners to meet the
objectives.
8. A PROGRAMME ON ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT CAPACITY BUILDING OF
THE WORLD BANK (ENVIS-EMCB)
ENVIS (Environmental Information System) has started implementing the World Bank
assisted Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project
(EMCBTAP) since January, 2002 which aims at structuring the ENVIS scheme by
extending its reach through involvement of Institutions/Organizations in State
Governments, academia sector, corporate sector, NGO sector, etc. The project also
aims at broadening the ambit of ENVIS to include varying subject areas, themes, local
conditions, issues, information/data needs of the country pertaining to environment and
planned to be achieved through enlargement of participatory Organizations/Institutions,
called EMCB-Nodes in various sectors and through introduction of modern means of 8
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This programme is a continuation
of the Sustainable Development Networking Programme: India (SDNP-India)
programme, funded jointly by the UNDP and IDRC, Canada.
ENVIS maintains a close liaison with various national information systems like the
Biotechnology Information System (BTIS) and several other similar networks for
exchange of environmental information as well as to avoid duplication of efforts in the
concerned fields. ENVIS also makes use of a large number of computerized databases
developed by scientific institutions all over the country. In order to search the various
databases both nationally and internationally, ENVIS has created a Web site, which
could be browsed at http://www.nic.in/envfor/envis.
ENVIS Focal Point in the Ministry has been identified as an implementing agency for
UNDP's Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP). The SDNP has
been initiated with financial support from United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) and International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada for a period of
three years (1998-2001). The goal of the programme is to promote the process of
sustainable development through organised accessibility to and exchange of information
among all concerned parties, viz. academic and research institutions, NGOs,
government bodies and business establishments. The ENVIS Focal Point in the Ministry
networks with ENVIS Centres located in various parts of the country. These Centres
have been collecting, analysing and disseminating information on their specialised
subject areas related to environment. It is important to note that both ENVIS and SDNP
have to work together to avoid any duplication of efforts and set up a common goal
which can be met by joint efforts of the ENVIS Focal Point in the Ministry and the SDNP
Secretariat.
9. AN INFORMATION SHARING SYSTEM IN ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC
In addition to the ENVIS networking, a model for resource sharing is being developed at
Environmental Economic Unit of the Institute of Economic Growth. The Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India, with financial support from the World
Bank, is implementing the India Environment Management Capacity Building Technical
Assistance Project. One important component of the programme is environmental
economics. Environmental economics as a discipline studies the impact of economic
activities on the environment and the implications of using environmental resources in
economic activity. Number of issues, like, Pollution, bio-diversity, climatic change, etc.
are being examined in different context, space and time by the economists and other
social scientists, located all over the world. During the last few years a lot of information
and knowledge has been created in the area of environmental economics. In order to
understand the complications involved in environmental issues, it becomes imperative to
share and disseminate the knowledge among the interested individuals and
organisations. Modern Information Technology is helpful for this purpose.
10. EXAMPLES OF ENVIS CENTRES
Presently the ENVIS network consists of Focal Point at the Ministry of Environment
and Forests, Government of India and ENVIS Centres setup in different
organizations/establishments in the country in selected areas of environment. These
centres have created websites on specific environment related subject areas. Given
below are two examples of ENVIS centres from two states of India.9
10.1 Environmental related issues of Jharkhand
Environmental Information System-Jharkhand (www.jharenvis.nic.in/) is one of those
ENVIS centres established to cover the status of environment and related issues for the
State of Jharkhand. The responsibility of this ENVIS centre is establishment of linkages
with all information sources, and creation of data bank on environment related issues of
Jharkhand. The Centre is expected to identify the information gaps and try to mitigate
them. Publication of newsletters and Bulletins and serving as nodal interface for users
are also important responsibility of the ENVIS centre. The details can be seen from the
following screenshot:
10.2 Environmental Information System in Tamil Nadu
The ENVIS Centre of the Department of Environment is functioning with the objective of
providing information on State of Environment of Tamil Nadu. The focal point of ENVIS
ensures integration of national efforts in environmental information collection, collation,
storage, retrieval and dissemination to all concerned.
10.2.1 Objectives
To provide national environmental information service relevant to present
needs and capable of development to meet the future needs of the users,
originators, processors and disseminators of information;10
To build up storage, retrieval and dissemination capabilities with the ultimate
objectives of disseminating information speedily to the users;
To promote, national and international cooperation and liaison for exchange
of environment related information;
To promote, support and assist education and personnel training
programmes designed to enhance environmental information processing and
utilisation capabilities;
To promote exchange of information amongst developing countries.
The other details of the centre are in the snapshot below available at the website at
http://www.tnenvis.nic.in/
10.2.2 ENVIS Subject Areas
There are 67 ENVIS Centres functioning all over India, they are categorized under
various subject areas, such as air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, biodiversity,
solid waste management, ecology and ecosystems, environmental education,
environmental parliament, coastal ecosystem, clean technology, etc. Both the Focal
Points and ENVIS Centres in their assigned subject-areas are developing the requisite
databases on identified parameters in order to disseminate information concerning their
subject-areas to the users concerned. In order to disseminate information online almost
all the ENVIS Centres have developed their interactive databases in their assigned
subject-areas for requisite dissemination. The ENVIS Focal Point has also developed a
comprehensive interactive website for online coordination with all its network partners as
well as dissemination of information to the users whenever required.
11. INDIAN STATE LEVEL BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DATABASE
(ISBEID)
In order to develop the databases on environment and its related parameters and to
make it available online to the Ministry for to and fro information flow, a web enabled
software, namely, Indian State Level Basic Environmental Information Database
(ISBEID) was developed by ENVIS in collaboration with National Informatics Centre
(NIC). The objective for development of this software is to cover the gap in
environmental data dissemination with regard to vast parameters such as air pollution,
water pollution, forestry, land resources, flora and fauna, etc. In total there are 17
modules. ISBEID is thus a web-based software made for the efficient management of
spatial/no spatial information on various environment areas through interactive maps
that are capable of handling various GIS operations. These modules were prepared with
GIS interface in order to have the information up to district level, taluk/mandal level. The
ISBEID prepared under ENVIS programme is exhaustive, reliable and authentic
information in one umbrella and the availability of data on finger tips can help decision
makers and planners to take decision by using this software.
Further details of ISBEID are at website - http://isbeid.gov.in/
12. CONCLUSION
Realising the importance of Environmental Information, the Government of India
established an Environmental Information System (ENVIS). The focus of ENVIS since
inception has been to provide environmental information to decision makers, policy
planners, scientists and engineers, research workers, etc. all over the country.
As environment is a broad-ranging, multi-disciplinary subject, a comprehensive
information system on environment would necessarily involves effective participation of
concerned institutions/organisations in the country that are actively engaged in work
relating to different subject areas of environment. ENVIS has, therefore, developed itself
with a network of such participating institutions/organisations for the programme to be
meaningful. A large number of nodes, known as ENVIS Centres, have been established
in the network to cover the broad subject areas of environment with a Focal Point in the
Ministry of Environment & Forests. Both the Focal Point as well as the ENVIS Centres
have been assigned various responsibilities to achieve the Long-term & Short-term
objectives. For this purpose, various services have been introduced by the Focal Point.
STORY BOARD/CHUNK TEXT
TEXT FOR VOICE NARRATION CHUNK TEXT Multimedia
Content12
INTRODUCTION
In order to protect our natural
environment, i.e., our atmosphere,
landscapes, oceans, water and
biodiversity, environmental
information is very essential.
India's environmental information is
being led by the Indian Government
through the Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MEaF) which is
responsible for the Environment
Information System (ENVIS), the
national information system for
Environmental Information. This
initiative brings together all efforts in
national environmental information,
building and maintaining this critical
information infrastructure for the
future.
INTRODUCTION
Environmental information is
essential for the protection of our
natural environment that includes
our atmosphere, landscapes,
oceans, water and biodiversity.
India's environmental information
is being led by the Indian
Government through the Ministry
of Environment and Forests
(MEaF) which is responsible for
the Environment Information
System (ENVIS), the national
information system for
Environmental Information.
NA
ENVIS
The GOI, in 1982, established
Environmental Information System
(ENVIS). The focus of is on
providing environmental information
to decision makers, policy planners,
scientists and engineers, research
workers, etc. all over the country.
Environment being a broad-ranging,
multi-disciplinary subject, this
comprehensive information system
involves effective participation of
concerned institutions/organisations
in the country that are actively
engaged in work relating to different
subject areas of environment.
ENVIS has been developed as a
network of such participating
institutions/organisations for the
programme to be meaningful. A
large number of nodes, known as
ENVIS Centres, have been
established in the network to cover
the broad subject areas of
environment with a Focal Point in
the Ministry of Environment &
Forests. Both the Focal Point as
well as the ENVIS Centres have
been assigned various
responsibilities to achieve the Longterm
and Short-term objectives. For
this purpose, various services have
ENVIS
Environmental Information System
(ENVIS) was established in 1982
by the GOI. The focus is to
provide environmental
information to decision makers,
policy planners, scientists and
engineers, research workers, etc.
all over the country.
Environment being a broadranging,
multi-disciplinary subject,
this comprehensive information
system involves effective
participation of concerned
institutions/organisations in the
country that are actively engaged
in work relating to different subject
areas of environment.
ENVIS has been developed as a
network of such participating
institutions/organisations for the
programme to be meaningful.
A large number of nodes, known
as ENVIS Centres, have been
established in the network to
cover the broad subject areas of
environment with a Focal Point in
the Ministry of Environment & 13
been introduced by the Focal Point. Forests.
Both the Focal Point as well as
the ENVIS Centres have been
assigned various responsibilities
to achieve the objectives. For this
purpose, various services have
been introduced by the Focal
Point.
Responsibilities of the ENVIS
Centres and Nodes
Both the Focal Point as well as the
ENVIS Centres have been assigned
various responsibilities.
Establishment of linkages with all
information sources, and
creation of data bank on selected
parameters in the subject area
assigned,
Identification of information gaps,
Publication of newsletters and
bulletins, and
Development of library facilities
and providing support to the
focal point on the subject area.
Responsibilities of the ENVIS
Centres and Nodes
Establishment of linkages with all
information sources, and creation
of data bank on selected
parameters in the subject area
assigned,
Identification of information gaps,
Publication of newsletters and
bulletins, and
Development of library facilities
and providing support to the focal
point on the subject area.
ENVIS Network
ENVIS is a decentralised network
consisting of a focal point in the
Ministry coordinating the activities
of a chain of 67 subject-specific
centres located in various
institutions/organisations all over
the country. As on March 25, 2014,
these are:
a) Centres set up in State Government
Departments 27
b) Centres positioned in National
Institutions/Organisations 26
c) Centres located in NonGovernmental
Organisations 14
ENVIS Network
A decentralised network
consisting of a focal point in the
Ministry coordinating the activities
of a chain of 67 subject-specific
centres located in various
institutions/organisations all over
the country.
Centres set up in State
Government Departments 27
Centres positioned in National
Institutions/Organisations 26
Centres located in NonGovernmental
Organisations 14
Services Offered by ENVIS
Query Answer Services
Referral Services
Abstracting Services
Services Offered by ENVIS
Query Answer Services
Referral Services
Abstracting Services14
- Publication of
Paryavaran Abstracts
Documentation Services
oPublication of Annual
Report
oPublication of ENVIRO
NEWS
Development of Databases
- Publication of
Paryavaran Abstracts
Documentation Services
o Publication of Annual
Report
o Publication of ENVIRO
NEWS
Development of Databases
Other Activities of ENVIS
The Ministry’s website has also
been developed by ENVIS Focal
Point and updated regularly to
disseminate online information to
all concerned.
The Information and Facilitation
Counter set up by the Ministry as
per the directives of DOPT is
also coordinated by ENVIS Focal
Point.
The Library of the Ministry which
is one of the scientific libraries in
the field of environment and
having more than 250 national
and international journals is also
coordinated by the ENVIS for its
development, resource
management and creation of
information resources.
The functioning of the entire
ENVIS network is monitored by
regional workshops, national
workshops and through a
Scientific Advisory Committee
under the chairmanship of
Secretary (E&F) to evaluate and
to provide necessary mid-term
corrections and guidelines to
ENVIS and its network partners
to meet the objectives.
Other Activities of ENVIS
Development of Ministry’s
website by ENVIS Focal Point.
The Information and Facilitation
Counter set up by the Ministry as
per the directives of DOPT is also
coordinated by ENVIS Focal
Point.
Coordination of Ministry’s library
The functioning of the entire
ENVIS network is monitored by
regional workshops, national
workshops and through a
Scientific Advisory Committee.
ENVIS Publications
The Focal Point publishes a
quarterly newsletter known as
ENVIRO NEWS of the Ministry
disseminating information on
policies amendment of rules and
ENVIS Publications
ENVIRO NEWS of the Ministry
disseminating information on
policies amendment of rules and
acts, international treaties and 15
acts, international treaties and
conventions, environmental
clearances, etc. undertaken by the
Ministry from time to time. A
quarterly journal known as
Paryavaran Abstracts reporting
environmental research in Indian
context is also published by the
Focal Point of ENVIS.
conventions, environmental
clearances, etc. undertaken by the
Ministry
Paryavaran Abstracts, a quarterly
journal reporting environmental
research in Indian context
SELF ACCESS
ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION
A. Multiple Choice Questions with Answers
1. Government of India, Ministry of -------------------------------------------------- is responsible for
the Environment Information System (ENVIS).
a. Home Affairs
b. Environment and Forests
c. Education
d. Science and Technology
2. Presently ENVIS has ----- ENVIS Centres functioning all over India.
a. 67
b. 92
c. 39
d. 78
3. ENVIS has been designated as a National Focal Point (NFP) and a Regional Service
Centre (RSC) of -------------------------------------
a. AGRIS of UN
b. BIOSIS
c. INFOTERRA of UNEP
d. Agricultural Knowledge and Information System
4. ENVIS brings out an abstracting journal entitled,
a. Indian Science and Technology Abstracts
b. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts
c. Indian Science Abstracts
d. Paryavaran Abstracts
5. Which of the following is not an ENVIS centre ?
a. Central Building Research Institute
b. National Physical Laboratory
c. TERI
d. COZMA
Answers: 1. b 2. a 3. c 4. d 5. b
B. True & False Statements 1. The purpose of the ENVIS Centres is to cater to the needs of the people requiring
environment related information, who do not have access to highly equipped libraries
and network systems.
2. ENVIS does not have any information exchange with other developing countries.
3. ENVIS provides answers to users’ queries and a referral service in the subject of
environment sciences.
4. The functioning of the entire ENVIS network is monitored by regional workshops,
national workshops and through a Scientific Advisory Committee.
5. ISBEID is a manual system made for the efficient management of information on
various environment areas through interactive maps
Correct Answer
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
C. Fill in the Blanks
1. ENVIS network consists of ---------------------------------- at the Ministry of Environment
and Forests and ----------------------------------------- setup in different
organisations/establishments in the country in selected areas of environment.
2. A long term objective of ENVIS is to build up a --------------------------------------------------
---------- in Environmental Science and Engineering.
3. -------------------------------------is an individual or an organization that on demand seeks
to answer queries using resources available in various places.
4. Each ENVIS Centre publishes ------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------- etc., as printed information package for dissemination as and when required
to all concerned.
5. ENVIS Centres set up all over the country have been building up a vast collection of -
---------------------------------------------------- in the particular subject area of specialisation
pertaining to environment. Correct Answer
1. Focal Point, ENVIS Centres
2. repository and dissemination centre
3. Information broker
4. newsletters, journals, abstracts, state of art reports
5. books, reports and journals
LEARN MORE
SUPPORTING MATERIALS/LEARN MORE
A. DID YOU KNOW
Description Image Source
The Environmental Information
System (ENVIS Centre) at CSIRIndian
Institute of Toxicology
Research, formerly Industrial
Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC),
Lucknow is a network partner with
the focal point at the Ministry of
Environment & Forests, Government
of India, New Delhi. Established in
January 1984, this Centre, one of
the earliest, functions in the area of
toxic chemicals. In association with
Ministry of Environment and Forests
and other ENVIS Centres it builds
up a repository of information and its
dissemination.
http://www.dainet.
org/envis_other.ht
m
Environment Protection Training
and Research Institute [EPTRI],
Hyderabad a premier agency in
India, provides training, consultancy,
applied research services and
extends advocacy in the area of
environment protection to industries,
regulatory bodies, Government
Organizations and NGOs and works
towards bringing about change for a
more balanced development.
It is involved in various activities
covering environmental issues such
as protected areas and biodiversity,
urban agglomeration, environmental
awareness, Human Resource
Development, Capacity Building and
Research.
http://eptri.com/
B. INTERESTING FACTS
No. Interesting Facts1. WII-ENVIS Centre on Wildlife & Protected Areas
Established in 1982, Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is an internationally acclaimed
Institution, which offers training program, academic courses and advisory in wildlife
research and management. The Institute is actively engaged in research across the
breadth of the country on biodiversity related issues. The Institute's idyllic campus
that has been carefully developed to create state of the art infrastructure
encourages scholarly work.
To disseminate information on Wildlife and Protected Areas, Wildlife Institute of
India was included as the 23rd Environmental Information System Centre in India,
with the focal theme "Wildlife and Protected Areas" in September 1997 by the
MoEF, India. This Centre deals with general matters concerning "Wildlife" and
specifically those related to "Protected Areas".
2. TERI ENVIS Centre
The TERI ENVIS Centre at The Energy and Research Institute (TERI), formerly
Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi was assigned to identify existing datagaps
in India in terms of access to information on renewable energy and
environment and bridge the same with information resources, tools, and techniques.
Since its inception in 1982, TERI ENVIS centre provides information to researchers,
students, consultants, decision makers, and policymakers on the assigned subject
areas.
3. COZMA
To deal with information on "Coastal Zone Management" the Ministry for
Environment and Forests established the 26th ENVIS node in India at Institute for
Ocean Management, (COZMA), Anna University. The aim of the centre is to collect,
collate and disseminate information relevant to the Coastal Zone Management
aspects.
C. TIMELINE
D. GLOSSARY
Starting
Character
Term Definition Related
Term
F Focal Point The main organisation in a network
which coordinates with other
members of the network.
I Information
System
An information system is a
network of information centres at
different levels working in perfect
harmony and close co-operation
with each other with the objectives
of storing and dissemination of
information usually of a specific type
or a specific community. In other
words, an information system is a
group of components that interact to
produce information for a specific group of users.
Infrastructure All institutional bodies holding
information resources and facilities
L Library Network A library network is a collective or
cooperative activity of linking
members/users to the resources
hosted on computers by means of
telecommunication connections.
N Network A network is a group of two or more
organisations linked together.
Node In a network, a node is a connection
point, either a redistribution point or
an end point for data transmissions.
E. WEB LINKS / REFERENCES
References
Annamalai R and others. Environmental Information Systems in Tamil Nadu.
Carson, R (1962). Silent Spring, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA.
Harjit Singh, Environmental Information System in India, in Kaul, H.K., (Ed.) Library
and Information Networking, NACLIN 99, Delnet, Delhi Library Network, 1999.
McCormick (1995). The Global environment movement. John Wiley & sons,
Chichester, UK.
Kaul, Surekha, Information Technology and Resource Sharing: A Proposed Model
for the Environmental Economics Unit of the Institute of Economic Growth, in Kaul,
H.K.,(Ed.) Library and Information Networking,-NACLIN 99, Delnet, Delhi Library
Network, 1999.
UN (1992a). Agenda 21, United Nations, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
UN (1992b). The Rio declaration on environment and development, United
Nations, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
www.envis.nic.in/
www.jharenvis.nic.in
http://isbeid.gov.in/
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