Agricultural scientists should work towards Scientific breakthroughs – Dr Manmohan Singh

KIIT Stadium, Bhubanewar
03 January 2012

The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the 99th Annual Session of the Indian Science Congress at KIIT Stadium, Bhubaneswar, here today. Inaugurating the 99th Indian Science Congress, he said, ‘increasing food production and nutritional security are critically important and our agricultural scientists should therefore work towards scientific breakthroughs that can enable a second green revolution to become a living reality.’

“Over the last few years, the number of scientific publications by Indian scientists working in India has increased at more than 12% per annum against the global average of 4%. India has moved from the 15th rank in 2003 to the 9th rank in 2010 with respect to the number of publications in peer-valued journals.” 

“We must aim to increase the total R&D spending as a percentage of GDP to at least 2 per cent by the end of the XII Plan Period from the current level of about 1 per cent. This can only be achieved if industry, which contributes about one-third of the total R&D expenditure today, increases its contribution significantly, “ said Dr Singh.

We should also take note of the results of a study published last year that showed that 60% of nearly 2000 Indian women PhDs in science who were surveyed were unemployed, Prime Minister further added, the main reason cited was lack of job opportunities.

Shri Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, Governor of Odisha, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Ashwani Kumar, Union Minister of State of Planning, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha are among dignitaries who grace the occasion.

The Prime Minister also gave away awards to scientists for their achievements and tribal of Koraput region for the global recognition they received for conservation of bio-diversity and developing climate resilient farming systems. Dr S Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR conferred the Dr B P Pal Memorial Award by Prime Minister of India during inaugural session of 99th Indian Science Congress.

The Congress at Bhubaneswar is focused on role of science and technology for development in India across all sections of society and particularly touching the under privileged, rural population and women. The theme of 99th Indian Science Congress is Science and Technology for Inclusive Innovation-Role of Women.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research along with Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar exhibited the implements and other exhibits related to women farmers. The achievements of the Council and institute were also highlighted in the exhibition namely, Pride of India at KIIT Stadium. The visitors are also showing their keen interest in the publications of the Council. Pride of India displays the strengths and achievements of government, corporate, PSUs, academics and research & development institutes, innovators and entrepreneurs from all across the country.

Director General, ICAR Dr S Ayyappan visited the ICAR Stall and appreciated the displayed exhibits. Director, Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture, Dr Krishna Srinath and other dignitaries also visited the stall and shown interest in the latest technologies developed by the Council.

The inaugural function of 99th Indian Science Congress, presided over by Prof Geetha Bali, Vice Chancellor of the Karnataka State Women's University, Bijapur, was attended by over 15,000 delegates, including 500 foreign scientists and several Nobel laureates. 

It is also noted that the Indian Science Congress Association, which will be celebrating its centenary in 2013 has been playing an important role in popularizing and shaping Indian Science, hence, next ISC will be held at Kolkata during 3-7 January 2013.

(Source: anil.cpro@gmail.com)