On the occasion of its 70 foundation day, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Wednesday announced research fellowships for scientists aged above 70.
Under the scheme, scientists would be given Rs. 20 lakh a year for five years, if they remain active, guide students and publish research papers. They should have also won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award.
CSIR Director-General Samir Brahmachari said many scientists continued to be active even after 70 and “we want to take advantage of services of such people.” Also, the fellowships would be available only to those who are not getting any support. Currently, there may be five to 10 scientists who would be eligible for the scheme.
Dr. Brahmachari also announced the winners of Bhatnagar award for 2012.
They include Shantanu Chowdhury of the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Suman Kumar Dhar of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (Biological Sciences), Govindasamy Mugesh of the Indian Institute of Science, Gangadhar J. Sanjayan of the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory [Chemical Sciences], Ravi Shankar Narayanan of the Indian Institute of Science and Shanti Pavan of the IIT, Madras (Engineering Sciences).
The other winners are: Siva Ramachandran Athreya and Debashish Goswami of the Indian Statistical Institute (Mathematical Sciences), Sandip Basu of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Medical Sciences), Arindam Ghosh of the Indian Institute of Science and Krishendu Sengupta of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (Physical Sciences).
Keywords: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR meeting, Manmohan Singh, fellowship scheme
I wish let CSIR give at least a lakh /year for EVERY scientist who retires from its setup. The present decision appear to contradict the views expressed by hon'ble PM. The national resources/funds must be fairly/evenly distributed among all Scientists so that a country of Billions may finally shine in S&T. My CONGRATS to all those who are recognized/benefitted by the present announcement!
Dr. Rakesh's comment is laudable, and CSIR Director is required to rectify the new scheme for scientists of over 70 years of age. By imposing the illogical rider that the fellowship-seeking septugenarian scientist must also be Bhatnagar Prize winner is highly ridiculous, and smells fowl. By imposing such an irrational condition the high-degree scientific research in India is being made a paternity of a certain ultra minority group of scientists. This reflects a mean mentality. The 19th century German poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, had said (in 1813) : "Science and art belong to the whole world, and the barriers of nationality vanish before them". Similarly, CSIR belongs to whole of Indian nation, and all Indian scientists (who qualify the age-group) and possess the potentiality for research must be given the opportunity to apply for the new fellowship.
It is one of the best schemes to be introduced in India.
I am now 71, actively interested to take up& guide research in the areas of Metallury, Materials science, Boiler life assessment reasearch, evaluation of integrity of high pressure&high temperature components.
I have retired as Senior Dy.General manager,R&D, BHEL, Tiruchy, Tamilnadu.
I have a lot of materials collected from USA< UK, Germany for advance research.
Pl send email in detail, whomsoever is interested.
It is good thought to introduce research fellowships for scientists aged above 70.There are many CSIR scientists who are active in research but are forced to work at places other than CSIR labs due to age bar & other hurdles. But putting riders like 'They should have also won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award" has reduced its intensity. It shows the scheme has been launched for selected people only known to authorities. It is known fact that in India there are many genius researchers who had been working hard for the cause of research. They are recognized by their work all over world but have never got any recognition from Govt. of India. Not to talk of any FNA or SSBhatnagar award. At least in science we should be open for progress and not to put any rider. This gives discouraging signal to the scientific community.
It is good thought to introduce research fellowships for scientists aged above 70.There are many CSIR scientists who are active in research but are forced to work at places other than CSIR labs due to age bar & other hurdles. But putting riders like 'They should have also won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award; has reduced its intensity. It shows the scheme has been launched for selected people only known to authorities. It is known fact that in India there are many genius researchers who had been working hard for the cause of research. They are recognized by their work all over world but have never got any recognition from Govt. of India. Not to talk of any FNA or SSBhatnagar award. At least in science we should be open for progress and not to put any rider. This gives discouraging signal to the scientific community.
It is good thought to introduce research fellowships for scientists aged above 70.There are many CSIR scientists who are active in research but are forced to work at places other than CSIR labs due to age bar & other hurdles. But putting riders like "They should have also won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award" has reduced its intesity. It shows the scheeme has been lounched for selected people only known to authorities. It is known fact that in India there are many jenious reserchers who had been working hard for the cause of research recognized by their work allover world but have never got any recognation from Govt. of India.Not to talk of any FNA or SSBhatnagar award. At least in science we should be open for progress and not to put any rider. This gives discouraging signal to the scientific community.
Already so many young scientists with M.Sc.,M.Tech. and Ph.D. remain unemployed in India.Many contribute to brain drain and migrate to non-scientiic jobs such as IAS and Banks.There is no scheme to provide help to unemployed scientists who are unable to meet both ends meet.At age of 70 one does not need money as all issues are settled but when one is young he needs money.There is no scheme by CSIR to provide productive employment to the such young scienists.If a person is able to manage awards why he needs such huge money at age of 70.Some departments like ISRO has a register to employ scientists with Ph.D. but not many take recourse to it ,reason unknown.CSIR should have a scheme to provide gainful employment such as NREGA so that these people can earn their livelihood.In our country there is not much respect for scienitific jobs but foreign countries value their scientific man power.Now scientists are migrating to software jobs because it provides them with livelihood atleast.
A good thought about gift for those contributed to research all their life .
Should be open to all.Let the best deserving ones get it.
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