By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday stressed that Indian origin researchers should be encouraged to work in the country, to convert the brain drain of the past into “brain gain for the future”, and that women should be attracted to take up careers in science.
Following are the highlights of the prime minister’s speech at the 97th Indian Science Congress here Sunday:
– Where are women scientists: One of the imbalances in India’s scientific resource pool is the under-representation of women. Redouble efforts to attract many more talented young women to take up careers in science.
– Disappointing climate summit: Only limited progress at the Copenhagen Summit and no one was satisfied. But India must not lag behind in achieving greater energy efficiency and a shift to renewable sources of energy.
– Unfortunate interferences: It is unfortunately true that red tape, political interference and lack of proper recognition of good work have all contributed to a regression in Indian science. We need to liberate Indian science from the shackles and deadweight of bureaucratism.
– Convert brain drain into brain gain: We must make a special effort to encourage scientists of Indian origin currently working abroad to return to our country including coming to our universities or scientific institutions for a short period. In this way we can convert the brain drain of the past into a brain gain for the future.
– Solar energy revolution: The government has decided to launch a Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission for 20,000 MW of solar generation capacity by 2020.
– Focus on water and food security: The government has embarked on a project to augment and renovate India’s water resources. Strengthening food security is another important area of emphasis in India’s scientific and technological efforts.
– Biotechnology breakthroughs okay, but safety first: Developments in biotechnology present the prospect of greatly improving yields in major crops. But the technology raises legitimate questions of safety. These must be given full weightage, with appropriate regulatory control based on strictly scientific criteria.
– The decade of innovation: The government has declared 2010-2020 as the “Decade of Innovations”. We need new solutions in many areas to achieve our goals of inclusive and sustainable growth – in healthcare, in energy, in urban infrastructure, in water management, in transportation, to name only a few.