The Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Prakash Javadekar said that it is research which helps countries to overcome problems of any type in any field and that’s why research work is being strengthened and given top priority by the union government.
He added that research and development work in various fields can pave way for innovations in the country and are the most important prerequisites for nation building, during his address at a valedictory session of the 8th Women Science Congress during the ongoing the 106th Indian Science Congress at the Lovely Professional University Jalandhar.
Shri Prakash Javadekar said that the union government has chalked out a programme to strengthen research and development in India. Talking about the slogan of “Jai Anusandhan” given by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the inaugural session of the 106th Indian Science Congress, he said, “This shows the commitment of the Centre towards research and innovations. The NDA government had carved out a fund of Rs 200 Crore this year for innovative solutions and 1000 colleges across the country are being equipped with innovation hubs.” He also called upon the Universities and other educational institutions to set up such innovation clubs on their own too.
Shri Prakash Javadekar also mentioned the problems faced by the country and gave a clarion call to women to come forward and join the science stream to resolve social and economic problems.
He said the union government had set up a fund under the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) to provide assistance to research laboratories. This year the ministry is spending nearly Rs 33,000 Crore for this purpose, while Rs 250 Crore has been earmarked to encourage social science research.
He said the major project of the government is SPARK which was launched to assist and encourage students to carry on their ambitious research projects within India instead of going abroad. In this regard the ministry has also planned to provide a scholarship of Rs 1 Lakh per student per month for research and innovation work.
He said the government is bringing together the students, teachers and industrialists in innovation and research work.The initiatives taken by the government had not only stopped brain drain but replaced it with brain gain. He said inculcation of scientific temper of the mind to understand the things in proper perspective is essential.
Shri Prakash Javadekar said the country cannot make progress unless science laboratories and research work are strengthened. With this motive the government has established six research parks in different parts of the country where students and teachers are doing research work.
