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1 December 2021

Dear Fellows/ Members,

Before we start the deliberations of today’s meeting, it is with a sense of deep sorrow that we record the loss of our Life Members V.M. Bhole, Director GSI; Dr A,V, Raju, DDG (Retd), GSI; A.W. Wasu, CG, MOIL; Prof. M. Bilwa, Mysuru; V. S. Krishnaswamy, DG (Retd) , GSI; Dr. R. M. Badve, Pune; K. Muthuraman, Director (Retd); Pramod Adau, Supt Geologist, GSI, Prof. K.L. Rai, Bhopal;  K. K. Dutta , Director (Retd); T.T. Somnathe, GSDA (Retd); Prof. H. J .Hansen, Denmark. May I request you all to observe silence for two minutes as a mark of respect to the departed souls.

I welcome you all to the 40^th Annual General Meeting. Kindly permit me to present before you the Annual Report of our Society for the year 2020-21.  The society has grown from a group of like-minded people to a congregation of more than 700 geoscience experts from all over India and overseas.

Membership

The position of life membership as it stood at the end of 2020-21 is upto serial number 702 out of which nearly 650 members are active members. Out of this, 07 Life Members were enrolled during the period under report.

            I am happy to inform the house that the Society has total four institutional members viz. Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA), Pune and Nagpur and Jai Hind College, Dhule and the Govt. P.G. Autonomous College of Science, Durg, Chhattisgarh.  

Publications

The name of Gondwana Geological Magazine, is changed as Journal of Geosciences Research (JGSR). The JGSR Volumes were in process for printing. The printing of volume was kept in abeyance due to Pandemic.  The volumes Vol. 5 no. 2, and Vol  6 no 1 and Vol. 6 no.2,  were printed  later. The Society has initiated process for  getting impact factor for JGSR. The published volumes are sent to most of the members by email in pdf format. The Society extends sincere thanks to the scrutinizers who completed timely scrutiny of the papers for this Journal.

Status of  Journal of Geosciences Research

It a matter of pleasure to announce that Journal of Geosciences Research (JGSR) has succeeded in timely publication of its regular issues with overwhelming support received from the learned geoscientific community across India. Now, the JGSR is recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi and included it in the new UGC-CARE list. It is proposed to upload all the JGSR volumes on GGS website (gondwanags.org.in).  The JGSR is now directly linked with Google search engine and the individual abstracts can be accessed all over the world as an html page and a downloadable pdf. The JGSR is now registered with Indian Citation Index (ICI) and expected to get it incorporated in the ICI very soon. Similarly, the attempts are being made to Index the JGSR in Google Scholar. Thus, it is expected to get it indexed there soon. The credentials of the JGSR are also under the process of submission to SCOPUS to fulfill the long pending demand of our readers and authors to recognize the JGSR as a SCI journal with the impact factor. With the unstinted support of our authors, reviewers and editorial team, January 2022 issue of the JGSR is in press for final printing and the soft copy of  the same is ready for circulation. The JGSR-2022, January Vol. 7, No. 1 will be circulated in time as per schedule. The funds position was affected in this year due to pandemic and lock down as the sale of publication was minimal and lack of activity kept the income stagnated. The Executive Council has decided to accept advertisements in the regular volumes restricted to a total of four colour pages at the rate of  Rs. 20,000/- for single page.

Meetings

The Society held 05 online  meetings of Executive Council during the year, to discuss the present situation and online activity for GGS. The Executive Council discussed the possibility of organising an online Seminar during pandemic in association with Mineral Exploration Corporation, Nagpur. The biennial election of GGS for the term 2020-2021 was delayed due to pandemic and was held in February 2021. The new EC took charge on 2 March 2021.  A new Executive Council headed by Dr. A.K. Chatterjee, as President and Dr P. B. Sarolkar, as Secretary, Dr. M. K. Roy  and Dr P.K. Jain as Vice presidents, Dr H. M. Khandare, Mrs S. Chaurpagar as  Joint Secretary, Mrs Samaya Humane as Treasurer, Dr. S.K. Humane as Editor and Dr Sandip Roy as Joint Editor, along with council Members, took over charge on 2 March  2021. 

Seminar/ Symposium / Workshop

The pandemic and lockdown put restrictions on the activities of Society.  Despite lot of restrictions the Society arranged online talks by  Dr N. C. Pant, Dr Somnath Dasgupta and  Dr. Yamuna Singh, on topics of scientific importance.

Foundation lecture of the Society

Since 32^nd AGM the Society has initiated to organize a Foundation Lecture. Today Dr Sandip Roy, Director GSI, Nagpur delivered the Foundation Lecture on the topic “Deglaciation, climate change and Antarctica”.  

GGS also extends greetings to the Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur University for Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and wish it will be grand success.

Awards by GGS

            GGS has instituted an annual late Dr S.C. Srivastava Gold Medal for research in Geochemistry  for young (less than 40 years) geoscientists. Faminly members of Late Dr. S.C. Srivastava donated the money for institution of this award. The first award for excellent contribution in Geochemistry was conferred on Dr. Abhishek Saha, Sr Scientist, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa. Dr Mrs Samaya Humane, has played a key role in institution of the award, processing applications and finalization of the award.   

Sale of Publications

            It is heartening to know that our publications are gaining popularity steadily but the sale of publication has  declined due to the pandemic. Total sale of publication during the period was Rs.8400 /- only. It is essential to put all out efforts to propagate our publications and improve the sale of GGS publications. Presently the sale of publications is very less and needs to be improved drastically.  

The annual subscription of the regular volumes are getting wider acceptance from Govt. organisations such as AMD, Hyderabad & Nagpur, Solapur University, SGB Amravati University and Govt. Institute of Science, Aurangabad &, Print India, New Delhi. .

Directory of Membership

A long awaited desire of publication of the Directory of the Life Members of GGS is nearing completion, but for the address details of few members, who are transferred or have changed their residence. All the members are requested to submit their latest addresses, phone numbers and e-mail ID to the Society to update the present directory. The list of Members was posted on Whatsapp and website.

Achievements of Life Members

            It is heartening to note that the life members of our society are acquiring higher positions in their respective organizations, which is a matter of great pride for the Society. Dr K.R. Randive has taken over charge as the Head of Department, Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur. Dr A.K. Joshi has joined as Director, MRSAC, Nagpur.

Acknowledgements

The Society is grateful to Shri. Hemarj Suryavanshi, Addl Director General and HoD, GSI, Central Region, for providing Auden  Hall for this meeting. The Society is thankful to Dr. Kirtikumar Randive, the Head, PG Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur University, for providing renovated hall for holding the meetings and for providing the premises for functioning of the Society. Our sincere thanks to M/s Aishwarya Graphics for printing the volumes of JGSR. We are also thankful to the auditors M/s A.G. Pimparkhede and Co. for auditing the accounts for the year 2020-21.

            We express sincere thanks to the authors, scrutinizers, members of editorial committee whose efforts are crucial in timely publication of the Journal. We would like to extend special thanks to the Honourable Vice Chancellor of RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur for the encouragement given to the activities of Gondwana Geological Society. I would also like to extend sincere thanks to Dr. U. L. Pitale, Dr. A.G. Bhusari, Prof. P.M. Tapaswi, Dr Amit Majumdar,  for the encouragement to the activities of Society. I also thank all the members of the Executive Council of the Society for constant encouragement, guidance and for extending support during the pandemic. The encouragement provided by the members of Media / Press by giving timely publicity to the activities of the Society is gratefully acknowledged. Lastly, I am thankful to you all for the co-operation extended in organising the activities of the Society during the pandemic and sincerely hope that it would continue during the current year also.

Nagpur           

01/12/2021                                                                                         Secretary