Ensure fruits of research reach people: Jitendra Singh

Union Ministor of Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs M.Venkaiah Naidu with Jitendra Singh, MoS for Science&Technology and Earth Sciences, at the meeting organised tomark CSIR-IICT 70 years of existence in Hyderabad on Thursday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh has urged scientists to ensure that the fruits of their research reach public and asked them not to work in isolation.

Speaking at a function organised to commemorate 70 years of CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology here, he said an area of knowledge could not flourish in isolation. Calling for bringing labs and their work into public focus, he said “unless we share with people, they think we are not doing anything”.

Emphasising the need for inculcating scientific temper among children at a young age, he mentioned that his Ministry has launched new initiatives to encourage young scientists as also women scientists. Efforts were also on to popularise science, especially in smaller towns. He wanted scientific institutions to utilise the R & D infrastructure of other institutes.

Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu, who released a souvenir brought out on the occasion, charged the “western nations” with trying to exploit the developing countries by placing all kinds of restrictions on the latter. He said the western nations were being “more than clever”. Those nations were developed but do not want others to develop, he said.

Observing that India has the largest coast and unique biodiversity, he wanted scientists to exploit them and discover new drugs. “India should also tie-up with developing nations and join hands with them to exploit this wealth”, he added.

Referring to the “Make in India” call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently, he said it should not be a mere slogan but a motto. Stating that India was repository scientific knowledge in ancient times, he urged scientists to re-invent and place the nation in forefront of education, research and technology.

To mark the occasion, IICT entered into an MoU with AP State Biodiversity Board to evaluate forest and other bio-resources.

Later, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated hostel and guest house complex of LaCONES by unveiling the plaque at CCMB main campus.