The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that Science and technology is an important instrumentality of the modern state. The purposes to which it can be used have to be defined by the guiding philosophy of a society, polity or state. Delivering inaugural address at the “17th National Children’s Science Congress” at Science City, Ahmedabad today. It is appropriate that the 17th Congress is being held at Gujarat Science City. As one of the most industrially dynamic and entrepreneurially active state in the country, Gujarat has established new national benchmarks. I am confident that this zeal would extend to promoting and popularising science among children, including through informal and vernacular modes of education.
Shri M. Hamid Ansari said that we in India are committed to a pluralistic society, a composite culture, a democratic way of life with guarantees of fundamental freedoms and human rights to all citizens. Our constitution, and especially its preamble, constitutes our guiding philosophy.
The Vice President has said that our challenge is to ensure that every citizen has access to opportunities to develop his/her human potential to the fullest so that they lead purposeful and rewarding lives. This is possible only if we can build and sustain equitable access to the education system, foster science education and research and development that innovate and address developmental problems through effective use of scientific and technological interventions
Vice President’s said while addressing, “I am very happy to be in Gujarat and to address this august gathering today. It is a privilege to meet young scientists and their mentors; together, they demonstrate that persistence in popularising science and stimulating scientific temper yields rich dividends.”
The Children’s Science Congress has evolved into a unique movement that has a countrywide reach and focuses the energies of the scientists of tomorrow on contemporary and relevant themes. I am glad to learn that there are many child scientists and escort teachers from SAARC countries who are participating in the Congress this year.
The Science Congress is a great leveller; it enables children to immerse themselves in the wonders of science irrespective of their social, family or financial status. It gives an opportunity to children from rural areas and from underprivileged families to pursue their scientific curiosity through voluntary agencies and government organisations that form part of the ‘NCSTC– Network’.
It is significant that the theme of this year’s Congress is focussed on planet Earth that is home to all forms of life and the need to explore, share and care for the resources that it provides us with. It has been a week since the issue of climate change was discussed at the global level at Copenhagen. I am sure the young minds gathered here today would debate and better understand natural and human-induced phenomena affecting the stability of our planet and its various ecosystems.
Human history shows that societies that responded to challenges with knowledge, and innovations based on that knowledge, were blessed with success. This will also be true of the world of the future, but with one difference. The residents of the planet Earth are facing more challenges today than at any time in the past. Their response, therefore, has to be in equal measure.
The challenges of economic development in the modern era of globalisation can only be faced with a strong edifice of science and technological education. The Information Technology revolution and advances in bio-technology and pharmaceutical industries have been made possible by huge public investment in tertiary science and technology education. The public sector nuclear energy, space and defence related industry and the Science and Technology establishment have created the demand for and incubated these science and technology graduates, who thereafter either became entrepreneurs or moved to the private sector.
And yet, it has to be admitted that our scientific output today in terms of researchers in basic sciences is insufficient for our requirements. This has a direct impact on our contribution to innovations and patents. It compares unfavourably with our peers and competitors on the world stage. One reason for this is our lack of focus on the priority that should be accorded to the pursuit of science.
Making a career in science attractive to our young people is an important goal and the government is making efforts in this regard. Allow me to mention a few steps that have been decided upon:
• Over one million school students are to be given science innovation scholarships and Support Scholarships for Higher Education in Science over the course of the next five years.
• During the course of the Eleventh Five Year Plan, the government is committed to expanding the Science and Technology base of our Universities and promoting funding at centres for advanced research.
• The government is also attracting talent at the secondary education stage through discipline-specific education programmes in strategic areas like space and nuclear sciences.
• Prime Minister has announced that the annual expenditure on science and technology would be enhanced from less than 1% of GDP to 2% of our GDP in the next five years.
Our challenge is to ensure that every citizen has access to opportunities to develop his/her human potential to the fullest so that they lead purposeful and rewarding lives. This is possible only if we can build and sustain equitable access to the education system, foster science education and research and development that innovate and address developmental problems through effective use of scientific and technological interventions.
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