Methodology: Surveys
Language: Marathi & English
Catalysts: Ninad Raut
Youth Fellows:
Kaustubh Bhagat
Devyani Ingale
Rajeshri Pukale
Harshad Ainapure
Nishigandh Bhadsawale
Ameya Jaokar
Pranoti Chorghe
Neelam Sayed
Coordinator: Kapil Chavan
About the Subject:
The urbanization process is fast getting rid of open spaces for public utility across Mumbai. The Maharashtra Nature Park is one such open space. These kinds of spaces are continuously being sold only to be replaced by forest of concrete buildings. Ninad and his friends were curious to find out whether a space like the Maharashtra Nature Park has any importance in the lives of the citizens of Mumbai.
Challenges & Learnings:
Most of the researchers were college students and keeping them together in a participatory fashion through this process was a difficult task for Ninad, their catalyst. He must have done a splendid job building the group because he ended up leaving the program half way but his group continued the project successfully through division of labour!
Conclusion:
It was revealed by the research that the average citizen was not aware of the existence of this space. Most visitors were groups of students and teachers who visited this garden for educational purposes. The group strongly felt that raising awareness among the citizens by disseminating information about the park was critical.
End Product:
They created greeting cards with beautiful photographs of the park in which information about the nature park was elicited. They were hoping to market these cards and thus disseminate the information, their ultimate action goal!
