Union Minister Harsh Vardhan focus on PMs schemes

Hyderabad: Union minister for science and technology Harsh Vardhan on Monday told scientists that research and development activities of the science and technology department should actively contribute to effective implementation of the ongoing government flagship programmes such as e-governance, Swachh Bharat, Digital India etc.

During the brainstorming conclave of the department of science and technology in Hyderabad on Monday, the minister observed that the S&T department had to play a bigger role in every government initiative in the country.

Mr Harsh Vardhan appealed to the scientific fraternity to provide their valuable inputs and vision for application of S&T based interventions to achieve global competence, focus on alleviating the sufferings of the common man and develop S&T based approach to fast-forward the process of socio-economic development of the country.

When asked about initiating new projects in the department, he responded that the department was keen to complete the already initiated projects rather than taking more ambitious steps. He elaborated that the department of Science and Technology had to be more responsible in effectively implementing every government programme or scheme.

Thus to fulfill the changing needs of the public, the department was focusing on the ongoing projects.

TMT from this year

Dr Wahabuddin, scientist and director of Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observa-tional Sciences (ARIES), said on Monday that the 30 Meter Telescope (TMT) project at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, would commence work by the end of December this year.

India has paid 10 per cent of the cost and up to 30 scientists from India will get to use the telescope every year. The TMT will be one of the largest optical infrared telescopes set to come up in the next decade. It is being constructed by an international consortium of institutions.
 

Blueprint sought

Union minister for science and technology Harsh Vardhan suggested that the scientific institutions prepare a blueprint of the needs and potentials and come out with actionable programmes. DST secretary Ashutosh Sharma emphasised on the role of DST in promotion of research on new and emerging areas, which had led to the emergence of new science ministries/departments such as environment and forests, new and renewable energy, biotechnology, scientific and Industrial Research.

Row over retiring

Union minister of state for science and technology Y. Sujana Chowdary on Monday observed that the long-pending issue of retirement age for scientists was a concern. According to the sources, Mr Chowdary assured the scientists that the Centre would resolve the issue related to retirement age and try to increase it to 65 years from 60 years. It was observed that scientists who get the post of directors in autonomous research institutions at about 50 years or above migrated to them to retire at 65 years.