Trivandrum, January 04: Pointing out that Indian science was now passing through a phase of regression, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has called for special efforts to encourage scientists of Indian origin currently working abroad to return to their homeland.
He was inaugurating the 97th Indian Science Congress in the Kerala capital of Trivandrum on Sunday. The focal theme of the five-day event is “Science and Technology Challenges of 21st century – National Perspective”.
“Red tape, political interference and lack of proper recognition of good work have all contributed to the regression of science in some sectors from the days of Dr C V Raman, J C Bose, Homi Bhabha, Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and other great pioneers of Indian science”, Singh said.
He sought the cooperation of scientists to liberate the science from the shackles and deadweight of bureaucratism and in-house favouritism so that the country can unleash the latent talent and creative energies of its vast scientists and engineers too.
The Prime Minister said special efforts were required to bring the Non-resident Indian scientists to the universities and scientific bodies in the country, at least for a short period. This, he said will help in converting the ‘brain drain’ of the past into a ‘brain gain’ for the future.
“We need to think creatively on how this can be done so that high quality minds are attracted to teaching and research,” he said adding that it required a change in mindset, including that of senior faculty and university administration. He noted that this was sometimes the hardest thing to do.
He stressed the need for an Innovation Eco-system with a strong outward orientation to stimulate innovations. Singh called upon science establishments to step up global alliances that will expose Indian scientists to the best in the world and enhance their competitiveness.
“We also need to think creatively on how to increase private investment in research and development. Some innovative policy readjustments may be required to build vibrant Public-Private Partnerships in the science & technology sector”.
The Prime Minister asked the elite institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technologies to do more to address the technological challenges of the 21st Century. Their research goals and the expectations of the industrial and social sectors must be better aligned.
He said that the government was considering the revision of the value of doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships as well as the formulation of schemes that would cover all research scholars with some funding support.
About 7,000 delegates, including 3,000 students, are participating in the mega event, hosted by Kerala University in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Eminent Indian scientists like MS Swaminathan, M G K Menon and Anil Kakodkar, and Nobel laureates Irving Zucker and Roger Tsien will be among the noted speakers at the congress, which will have eight plenary sessions.
A notable feature of the event is a ‘Children Science Congress’. This will be inaugurated by former President A P J Abdul Kalam. A major attraction at the congress is a science exhibition showcasing the latest scientific developments and achievements in the country.
–Agencies