By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday laid the foundation stone of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) first campus in the national capital and urged space scientists to continue their focus on need-based science for nation building.
“I am very happy to lay the foundation stone of ISRO’s Space Complex in New Delhi. The complex will go a long way in fulfilling the needs for utilisation of space based services in this part of our country,” Manmohan Singh said in his speech here.
“I do hope that the building will be well-designed and that it will set an example in the utilisation of environment-friendly technologies. Above all, I hope that it will popularize the study of space all across the country,” he added.
Through video conference, the prime minister also inaugurated the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram.
“I would like to thank the governments of both Kerala and Delhi, particularly (Delhi Chief Minister) Smt. Shiela Dixit, for supporting the establishment of these two institutions,” Singh said.
He said the Kerala institute will be “able to cater to half the annual manpower needs of the ISRO. It is our collective duty to ensure that we create the necessary conditions to attract the best and the brightest to scientific and technological studies”.
Talking about the human face of the Indian space programme, the prime minister said it is firmly rooted to the needs of ordinary men and women.
“The applications of our space based capabilities are… and I say with great pride… are of direct benefit to our national development goals. I am told that 50,000 classrooms are connected through the tele-education network. More than 375 hospitals are providing tele-medicine services to over 300,000 patients. Over 475 village resource centres are providing single window based space services in our country,” he added.
He also honoured a few scientists for their outstanding and lasting commitment to their job and growth of the country.