Govt’s particular focus on strengthening S&T ecosystems: Agriculture Minister

New Delhi: The science and technology sector’s development has made rapid progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Science and technology have touched and influenced every field of life and are one of the priorities of the Government of India. This was stated by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar.

He was speaking during the closing ceremony of India International Science Festival (IISF)-2022 on January 24, 2023, at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

The Union Minister said that Vigyan Bharti, State Government and Central Government together provided an efficient platform for students, scientists, and start-ups from across the country through this event. A large number of students and youth were invited to the festival.

He said that our country is young and youth energy is its’ biggest strength. ‘Amritkaal’, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a period when the country can fulfill its biggest expectations and goals, drawing on the strength of the young population. For this, the Government of India is promoting science and technology extensively.

“Government’s priority can also be understood from the fact that the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had given the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan’. Later, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee added ‘Science’ to make it ‘Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan-Jai Vigyan’. Prime Minister Modi has completed it by adding ‘Anusandhan’. Now it is ‘Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan-Jai Vigyan and Jai Anusandhan,” said Narendra Singh Tomar.

“When we came into Government, the budget for science & technology was around Rs 2,000 crore, which was increased by our Prime Minister to more than Rs 6,000 crore,” he added.

Mr. Tomar said that today no field was untouched by science and technology. In the agriculture sector too, due to technology, work has become easier, losses are being reduced and time is being saved. The use of drone technology is being made accessible to farmers. Farmers will get huge benefits through Digital Agriculture Mission, he said. Based on the way research is being done in the agriculture sector, we can say that in the coming days, India will increase its production and productivity by using technology. Along with fulfilling the country’s needs, we will also be successful in discharging our responsibilities toward the world.

Addressing the function, the science and technology minister of Madhya Pradesh, Om Prakash Sakhlecha said, that the IISF2022 was a complete success as a large number of students and youth participated in it, and now they will be filled with curiosity and new zeal to do something big. He said, apart from Mega Start-up Expo, 1500 young scientists brainstormed on emerging technology in all areas of S&T including Biotechnology.

Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr S. Chandrasekhar in his address said that we will come up with better agenda next time. He said, Science has no boundaries and the India International Science Festival (IISF) is fast emerging as a platform to deliberate on global challenges. Shri Chandrasekhar said that IISF is happening at a time, when India has assumed the G-20 Presidency under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, where we will be showcasing India’s power, not only in science and technology, but in every sector to the World.

Chairman, ISRO, Dr S. Somanath told the gathering that we are celebrating science to give light and way to the future generation for making pioneering contributions in ‘Amritkaal’.

Dr. Somanath said, we have to be creative, and innovative and do many firsts in the world to become a scientific power. He expressed hope that India will become such a country by navigating the great scientific ecosystem that everyone in the world will aspire to come and live here.

Dr Sudhir Bhaduria, Secretary General, Vigyan Bharati said that the Vigyan Bharati is working with the Science Ministries and Science Department of universities and colleges in India to promote the modern scientific outlook and thinking for the benefit of the country and the entire humanity.

Nikunj Srivastava, S&T Secretary, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh; Dr. Sudhanshu Vrati, Executive Director, Regional Centre for Biotechnology (Faridabad); and Dr Anil Kothari were among other dignitaries of the programme.

IISF Bhopal deliberated on 15 important events in a four-day science festival like the ‘Student Science Village’ where 2500 students participated and get exposed to new technologies and innovations.

IISF-2022 with the theme of ‘Moving towards Amritkal with Science, Technology and Innovation’, was organized from 21 to 24 January 2023 at Bhopal, the city of lakes. The event was jointly organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology and Government of Madhya Pradesh and Vijnana Bharti.

The Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology was the nodal department for organizing this mega event. Regional Center for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad was the Nodal agency for the IISF-2022.

(India Science Wire)