The Hindu : Front Page : We need a new generation of role models and teachers: PM

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Sunday, Jan 04, 2009
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We need a new generation of role models and teachers: PM

P. Sunderarajan

He calls upon upon industry to invest more in research and development

Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presenting the Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award to Dr. Kasturi Rangan, at the inaugural function of the 96th Indian Science Congress, at North Eastern Hill University in Shillong on Saturday. Union Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal and Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar (right) look on. —

SHILLONG: Prime Minister Manmohan said on Saturday that leadership for qualitiative development must come from scientists and teachers.

“It is teachers and researchers who inspire new generations. The government can at best ease the supply side constraints on teaching and research. The demand side stimulus must come from institutions and industry. Our universities must do more to foster a research environment. We need strengthening of institutional leadership in universities and research institutions We need a new generation of role models and teachers.”

Calling upon upon industry to invest more in research and development, he noted that India lagged behind not just developed western countries, but also the newly industrialising economies of Asia in the area of science and technology. While the government was doing its best for the quantitative development of Indian science and technology, the leadership for qualitiative development must come from scientists and teachers.

Inaugurating the 96th session of the Indian Science Congress here, Dr. Singh said scientific institutions should promote talented youngsters and allow them to take up the leadership role. “The best science is done by young people. Our institutions must be receptive to the needs of young people. They must promote younger talents and allow youth to lead. Seniority and age may be relevant in bureacratic systems, but scientific institutions must be led by intellectual leaders, irrespective of age.”

The Prime Minister reiterated that the government was committed to doubling the investment in science and technology from 1 per cent of the GDP to 2 per cent. He announced the setting up of new institutions for research in Himalayan glaciology, molecular materials, nano science and technology. He disclosed that the Ministry of Science and Technology was considering adopting the Chennai-based Cancer Research Institute, as well as the National Innovation Foundation in Ahmedabad and the Institute for Advanced Study in Science and Technology in Guwahati as grantee institutions.

Later speaking to The Hindu, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, T. Ramasami said the aim behind the adoption of the three centres as grantee institutions was to ensure that while they got adequate administrative and financial support from the government, they retained their functional autonomy.

The Cancer Research Centre in Chennai, he said, in particular required support to ensure that it did not face any problems in future, considering that the two leading lights of he institution, V. Shanta and Krishnamurthy, are in their ninetes.

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