Our story
A teacher, a garden and a Sunday school in 1991. Today, a field campus on the forest edge and 40 forest villages.
Nisarg Shala, 1991
NiViM began as Nisarg Shala, a nature school that met on Sundays under the trees of Shahu Garden on Manewada Road, Nagpur. Dr. Vijay L. Ghugey called it a "School of Concepts": children learned about nature, hygiene and science by seeing and doing, not by sitting in a classroom.
The group was registered as a society and a public trust in Wardha in 1992. Teachers, researchers, nature lovers and field workers joined. On World Environment Day, 5 June 2010, Nisarg Shala was inaugurated as a regular centre for learning outside school by the Vice-Chancellor of Amravati University.
From the city to the forest
The work grew outward from the city in three rings. In Nagpur city it runs festivals, advocacy and school programmes. At Besa on the city's edge it runs Nisarg Shala and the Dnyandeep library. In Umred talukait runs the NETRAVAN campus, livelihood work and village biodiversity committees.
Nature and science together
The logo carries the idea in Marathi: निसर्गाचा न करता ऱ्हास, विज्ञानाचा करूया विकास. Grow science without destroying nature. Our mission is to strengthen scientific attitudes for the management of natural resources through community participation.
Milestones
- 1991Nisarg Shala, a Sunday nature school, starts under the trees at Shahu Garden, Nagpur.
- 1992Registered as a society and a public trust in Wardha.
- 1997Eco-friendly festival campaign begins in Nagpur.
- 2005Forest produce and tribal livelihood work begins.
- 2009NETRAVAN campus is established at Khapari (Davha).
- 2014Biodiversity Management Committees set up in 32 Gram Panchayats.
- 2017Dnyandeep library opens at Besa.
- 2020State Wildlife Board approves the Muniya Conservation Reserve, proposed by NiViM in 2007.
- 2021Muniya Conservation Reserve officially declared on 11 May. Forest rights committees begin.
- 20229,885 hectares of forest land allotted to Gram Sabhas of 45 villages.
- 2024Invited as a Special Guest at the Republic Day Parade, New Delhi.
The founder
Dr. Vijay Laxmanrao Ghugey is the founder and honorary managing trustee of NiViM. He received the National Teacher Award (Rashtrapati Puraskar) in 2007.
| 2004 | Jivan Gaurav Puraskar (Lifetime Achievement)Maharashtra Pollution Control Board |
| 2005 | Wildlife Conservation AwardWildlife Wing, Forest Department |
| 2006 | "Lakeman of Nagpur"The Hitavada |
| 2007 | National Teacher Award (Rashtrapati Puraskar)President of India |
| 2009 | Professional Excellence AwardRotary Club, Central India |
| 2018 | Acharya PuraskarSarvodaya Ashram, Nagpur |
34 years of work. Help us keep going.