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ISCA calls for review of national science and tech policy
Kolkata, Mar 11: The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) has called for a review of the national science and technology policy, 2003, which it says `lacks direction` on a number of objectives laid out in the document.
Kolkata, Mar 11: The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) has called for a review of the national science and technology policy, 2003, which it says 'lacks
direction' on a number of objectives laid out in the document.
Discussing the policy statement, which was unveiled by
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Indian Science
Congress at Bangalore earlier this year, ISCA scientists told
reporters here yesterday that many issues including
introduction of science education at school level remained
untouched in the document.
"While the document seeks to mount a direct and sustained effort on the alleviation of poverty, it does not specify any corresponding direction to achieve this end," ISCA council member Prof S P Mukherjee said.
Pointing out that it was 'wishful thinking' on the government's part to aim at 'networking the existing infrastructure, investments and intellectual strengths', he said the document did not provide any effective steps to bring about this change.
"Similarly, while the policy says that the demand of quality scientists and technologists is bound to increase in the coming years, it remains mum on introduction of science education at the very basic primary levels," Mukherjee, also the past general secretary of ISCA, said.
The document had also not prioritised the many objectives that it sought to meet and hence resource allocation for individual schemes could be hampered, Mukherjee pointed out.
"While the document seeks to mount a direct and sustained effort on the alleviation of poverty, it does not specify any corresponding direction to achieve this end," ISCA council member Prof S P Mukherjee said.
Pointing out that it was 'wishful thinking' on the government's part to aim at 'networking the existing infrastructure, investments and intellectual strengths', he said the document did not provide any effective steps to bring about this change.
"Similarly, while the policy says that the demand of quality scientists and technologists is bound to increase in the coming years, it remains mum on introduction of science education at the very basic primary levels," Mukherjee, also the past general secretary of ISCA, said.
The document had also not prioritised the many objectives that it sought to meet and hence resource allocation for individual schemes could be hampered, Mukherjee pointed out.
Bureau Report