BANGALORE: Scientists in the city want the new government to support science and economic development.
C N R Rao, honorary president and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, said: “I expect the new government to have the conviction that a strong science base is essential for innovation.”
Prof K Vijay Raghavan, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, pointed out that India is at the cusp of addressing its challenges with science and technology as key agents. India’s foundation in basic science enables it to tackle many problems, he said. ENS
“As we grow, we need to revamp the processes in our science agencies to deal with larger budgets and a larger footprint of science. This is an urgent task and if we are to succeed, it requires all our efforts,” Prof Raghavan said.
According to Govindaswamy Bala, professor at Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at IISc, the last 10 years were a “wasted decade” because of corruption and inaction on developmental programmes. Calling for improving infrastructure and manufacturing, Bala stressed the importance of a booming economy in the creation of wealth and development of science. “A booming economy is the need of the hour to excite our youth. I am hoping that the job aspirations of our younger generation will be fulfilled in the coming decade,” he said.
Anindya Sinha, professor at School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Sciences, says if the BJP wants an industrial culture in the country, they must mobilise the private sector. “We need funding for education and research. There is hardly any support from industries for scientific research unlike the West. We are totally dependent on the government”, he said, adding that the new government must strive for peace and communal harmony.