PM says keep govt’s culture out of science

In his inaugural address to over 5,000 scientists from India and abroad at the five-day 90th Indian Science Congress in Bangalore, Vajpayee called for an end to the bureaucratisation of R&D (research and development) establishments in the country.

‘‘We have to ensure our scientific institutions do not become afflicted with the culture of our governmental agencies,’’ said the Prime Minister. For, the bureaucratic culture was closely linked to the ‘‘brain-drain in our science and technology establishments…Talent should not be suppressed and individualism should not replace teamwork. Inadequate attention to these aspects sometimes results in our talented younger scientists getting frustrated.’’

‘‘Apart from the migration of significant numbers of our talented scientists and technologists abroad, we also face a problem of diversion of talent away from our R&D careers to non-scientific careers in both the government and the private sector,’’ he said.

In a bid to attract the Indian scientific diaspora, Vajpayee said wherever it was necessary, pragmatic and flexible schemes should be devised to enable them to come and work in the science and technology institutions of the country.

‘‘They are more than willing to contribute to our national development. We can use their expertise in critical R&D areas,’’ he said. Lamenting on the ‘‘indifferent quality’’ of graduates and post-graduates being churned out by the ‘‘exceptional scientific and technological institutions,’’ the Prime Minister said there was a ‘‘need to take corrective action.’’

He said that the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002-07) would see investment in this sector doubling to 2 per cent of the GDP. In effect, this means the scientific establishment will have access to an extra $2.5 billion over the next five years. For this to happen, the policy says ‘‘a series of both tax and non-tax fiscal instruments have to be evolved.’’

The S&T policy paper is being seen as a roadmap for the future—until now, most debate in the S&T sector was guided by the Science Policy Resolution of 1953 and the Technology Policy Statement of 1983.

Said K. Kasturirangan, ISRO chairman and general president of the Indian Science Congress, in his inaugural address: ‘‘With national policies that were set in motion for the liberalization of economy, a new agenda has been set for achievement of global competitiveness by our industries and indeed global excellence. Our basic R&D, applications research and delivery systems need re-orientation in tune with this new paradigm.’’

Vajpayee said that more private participation was essential for India to achieve its ambitious GDP growth target of 8 per cent in the Tenth Plan. ‘‘They (the private sector) should invest more in indigenous R&D, in partnership with our science and technology institutions, IITs and universities, so that their products and services become globally competitive,’’ Vajpayee said.

HRD Minister M M Joshi, who piloted the paper, said that the new policy was anchored in the ‘‘abiding belief that for science and technology to grow, it must be green, it must be ethical, it must have a human face, it must be gender sensitive, it must be region and context-specific, reflect our enormous diversity and plurality.’’

The implementation plan which accompanies the policy document expects that ‘‘a certain percentage of the overall allocation of each of the socio-economic ministries be devoted for relevant activities in science and technology.’’

Welcoming the policy, Infosys chairman N R Narayana Murthy said: ‘‘It will help the Indian S&T community better focus its research efforts.’’

The Prime Minister also announced the setting up of annual award of Rs 25 lakh called the India Science Award whose selectors will include both Indian and international scientists.