Sustainable development needed: Puar

PATIALA, Jan 29: “Enterprising Punjabis with modern outlook are now exposed to the situations which are threatening to their hard earned lead in per capita income, industrial growth rate and economic stability due to numerous internal and external factors”’ said Dr Joginder Singh Puar, Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala in his welcome address to a panel discussion on “Managing Science and Technology for Industrial Development,” organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (Patiala chapter) in the Senate Hall, here today.

He felt that for a sustainable development compatible with national issues, under the hostile economic environment, a well thought out approach, involving proper utilisation of managerial skill towards science and technology for industrial development of Punjab, was a well justified necessity. He suggested that with the rapid improvement and modern innovations available in the field of information technology which now has considerably affected the management aspects, the outlook with respect to managing science, technology and industrial development should be constantly reviewed. On the cotton belt of Malwa, Dr Puar said that though the PAU Ludhiana was doing its best yet the position in regard to the plight of the farmers in Malwa was not satisfied.

Prof I.J.S. Bansal, president of Punjab Academy of Sciences and convenor of regional chapter, Patiala of Indian Science Congress association strongly emphasised the linkage between industry and science and technology institutions for better industrial output and industrial growth.

Prof B.S. Bhatia, Dean of Academic Affairs said that the challenge before science and technology today is to help produce the necessities and comforts of life without the necessity of people leaving their homes and environment without computing daily a hundred kilometer or more. Air Marshal K.S. Bhatia (retd) said that science and technology had always played an important part in industrial development all over the world.