The Hindu : National : Decision on science foundation in winter session: C.N.R. Rao

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Friday, Nov 11, 2005

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Decision on science foundation in winter session: C.N.R. Rao

Staff Reporter

Country's growth was a corollary to scientific advancements

C.N.R.Rao

TIRUCHI: The Rs. 1,000 crore proposal mooted by the scientific community for several years to set up a world-class national science and research foundation is due to be taken up for approval in the winter session of Parliament, C.N.R. Rao, Head, Science Advisory Council to Prime Minister, said on Thursday.

The foundation, with an autonomous identity, will be free from bureaucratic control, and monitored by the scientific community on the lines of the National Science Fund of the United States.

It would revamp the research and funding system in the universities, work towards enhancing their basic research in science and technology, Prof. Rao told presspersons here.

The country's growth was a corollary to scientific advancements, and various steps were being taken to harness the potential. Foundation for two Institutes for Science Education and Research (ISER) in Pune and Kolkata at a cost of Rs. 500 crores each will be laid in 2006, and three more ISERs will be started in the north, south and central parts of the country in the coming years.

To expand the science base, more than 200 students will be admitted to each of the two IITs (Kanpur and Madras) in integrated science courses from 2006, and such admissions to other IITs would be made in the following years.

Prof. Rao was hopeful that the newly instituted Ramanujam Fellowship, having a value of Rs. 50,000 a month and an additional contingency amount of Rs. 5,00,000 a year for a five-year period, and the J.C. Bose Fellowship, recognising active and performing scientists and engineers with a fellowship of Rs. 20,000 a month in addition to their regular income during a five-year term, will attract the best scientific talent to boost research in the country.

The Taskforce for Women in Science, established by the Ministry of Science and Technology, would seek to provide flexible working hours for women scientists to invest their knowledge.

A sum of Rs. 50 crores has been spent over the recent past under the country's Nano initiatives, for research through the 8 Nanoscience units, and 6 centres for Nano technology.

The idea for establishing Neutrino Laboratory under the Nilgiri Hills has been cleared and the report for the Rs. 400 crore project was ready, Prof. Rao said.

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