The Hindu : Good infrastructure key to quality education: Rawat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 31, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Good infrastructure key to quality education: Rawat

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry Dec. 30 . The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Bachi Singh Rawat, said there was an urgent need to strengthen infrastructure in universities and higher technical and medical educational institutions functioning with special emphasis on research activities, in order to gain a competitive edge in the science and technology sector, including medical sciences.

Declaring open a Rs. 57-lakh state-of-the-art clinical immunology laboratory in the department of medicine in the Centrally-administered JIPMER here today, Mr.Rawat said great concern was expressed in recent years about lack of infrastructure. The Department of Science and Technology was seized of the matter. The department was established by the Centre and was functioning as a nodal agency to promote research activities and encourage science in all its facets.

The Minister said that with a view to revitalising scientific enterprise in the country and to raising standard of science and technology in universities and higher educational institutions, the Centre had taken a decision to modernise infrastructure, integrating teaching and research works. As part of this programme, a fund called `Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology (FIST) infrastructure in Universities and higher educational institutions' was formed.

Mr. Rawat pointed out that during the last 30 years since its inception, the Department of Science and Technology had scored several achievements. He highlighted the success stories in the field of biomedical sciences. The FIST was aimed at attracting fresh talent and promoting competitive research works.

He said JIPMER was one of the centres chosen for FIST support. The laboratory would undertake research works in the basic and clinical aspects of immunological disorders and enable setting standards for future application relevant to population. The facility at JIPMER was expected to conduct advanced research and he hoped that the new laboratory would contribute significantly to the development of science and immunology. If the institute made satisfactory progress making use of the new facility, it would grow into a full-fledged speciality for the benefit of the people of the country, especially in the south.

Further backing from the Science and Technology department would be available,he added.

The Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, projected the highlights of health care service.

He said the per capita expenditure incurred for the health delivery system was higher in Pondicherry than other parts of the country.

The JIPMER Director, R. Sambasiva Rao, said that JIPMER had spent Rs. 12 lakhs for the establishment of the laboratory while the Department of Science and Technology had granted Rs 45 lakhs.

The facility would help it develop into a super speciality centre.

The Dean of JIPMER and head of the department of medicine, A. K. Das, spoke.

Mr. Rawat and Mr. Rangasamy visited the lab. V. S. Negi, associate professor in the department of medicine, explained to them the features of the innovative facility.

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Good infrastructure key to quality education: Rawat