By P. Vijian, NNN-Bernama,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh wants to see India transform into a strong scientific-based society — venturing into space and develop nuclear energy capabilities for the future.
“This year, we hope to send an Indian spacecraft, Chandrayan, to the moon. It will be an important milestone in the development of our space programme,” he said in his Independence Day speech Friday.
“India’s atomic scientists and technologists are world class. They have developed nuclear energy capacities, despite heavy odds,” he added.
Under tight security blanket, behind a backdrop of stressful political and economic conditions, India celebrated its 62nd Independence Day, after gaining freedom from the British rule in 1947.
In the speech, the prime minister urged Indian scientists to find alternative energy sources to feed India’s energy-hungry economy, which is now growing at about seven per cent.
“I would like our scientists and engineers to find ways in which we can make better use of solar energy, wind energy, bio-gas and other sources of energy.
“We must apply modern science and technology to find long-term solutions to our energy problem. Our crude oil and gas reserves are limited. We must find alternative energy sources,” he added.
Manmohan said India’s economy needed to chalk a 10 per cent annual growth to remove poverty and generate employment, and the basic requirement for sustained growth and development of the agriculture and industry was the availability of energy, particularly electricity.
He said: “India will be transformed only when every Indian is literate, well-fed, healthy and can secure gainful employment.”