Kalimpong’s Prashanti Sunwar Shines at 31st National Children’s Science Congress in Bhopal

KalimNews, January 13, 2025, Kalimpong : Prashanti Sunwar, a student of Kalimpong Girls' Higher Secondary School, proudly represented West Bengal at the 31st National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) held in Ravindra Bhawan, Bhopal, from January 3 to January 6, 2025. Along with 30 other students from the state, Prashanti showcased her innovative project titled “Reassessing the Merits of Underrated Millet (Kodo)”, which garnered praise at the national level. 

Prashanti, who is the Dux of her school for 2024—an award given to the most meritorious and all-around best student—has been diligently preparing for her Madhyamik Pariksha in 2025. With the guidance of her teacher, Yogya Maya Khawas, she developed the project, which explored the potential of Muthey Kodo millet as a nutritious and sustainable crop. Her research-based project was lauded for its scientific depth and relevance, making a strong impression both at the district and state levels before being selected for the prestigious national congress. The project, which involved extensive data collection and analysis, was first recognized at the district and state levels before earning its place at the national congress. Guide teacher

Prashanti’s guide teacher, Yogya Maya Khawas, expressed her satisfaction with Prashanti’s achievement, noting that her project thesis was presented at the national level with commendable effort. She also praised the project’s recognition by the evaluators, who found it to be thoroughly researched and well-executed.

Nim Mayel Lepcha, Principal of Kalimpong Girls’ HS School, also congratulated Prashanti, stating that it is a matter of immense pride for the school that Prashanti represented not only her school but also the district and the state at a national platform. We are very pleased with this achievement. 

The NCSC serves as a platform for young scientists to explore contemporary issues through research, promoting scientific thinking and innovation. Prashanti's project on Muthey Kodo millet exemplifies this focus, addressing both environmental sustainability and the promotion of local crops.

A resident of Dalimkote Tea Garden in the Western Dooars, Prashanti hails from a family of tea garden workers. Her achievement is a significant milestone for Kalimpong, as she became one of the 30 students selected from across the state to participate in the prestigious national event. The selection followed a rigorous process, beginning with the state-level NCSC held on October 7 and 8, 2023, at Hare School in Kolkata, where 334 projects from across the state were presented.

From the state-level congress, 30 outstanding projects were chosen to represent West Bengal at the national level. These projects spanned various districts, including Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, and several others. Arun K Rai, the District Coordinator of the Kalimpong District Committee for NCSC, highlighted the significant participation of schools in Kalimpong, which presented promising research in multiple fields.

Among the standout projects from Kalimpong presented at the district level were Prashanti’s project on millet, as well as “Conservation of Decreasing Spring Water in Hill Areas” by Nikita Ojha from Tista Bridge Higher Secondary School, “Wild Edible Fruits of Kalimpong District and Their Economic Potentials” by Muskan Mahato of St. George’s HS School, and “Reduction of Heavy Carbon Emissions & Traffic Jam of Kalimpong Through Affordable E-Cycle” by Spandan Manna from Dr. Graham's Homes.

The district-level congress, which has been held annually since 2019, saw 1,781 projects presented from across the state, with Kalimpong contributing 15 of them in the last congress. Schools such as Suruk Mondodari Higher Secondary School, Bagrakote HS School, Lava HSS, and St. George’s HSS participated in the event, which is organized by the Kalimpong District Committee of NCSC. 

The state level programme is organsied by Science Communicators Forum (SCF) of West Bengal which also monitors the activities of all district committees of the state.

The NCSC initiative aims to inspire young minds, encouraging them to explore scientific challenges and develop innovative solutions for the world’s pressing problems. It also provides a platform for teachers to refresh their knowledge and enhance their teaching skills, fostering a dynamic learning environment. For students like Prashanti, the NCSC experience has opened doors for future research opportunities, instilling confidence and a passion for scientific inquiry.

As Kalimpong continues to foster young talent in science and research, the achievements of students like Prashanti Sunwar are a testament to the growing interest in science education in the region.