The Hindu : Front Page : ’Explore exciting opportunities’

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Saturday, Sep 01, 2007
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Front Page

’Explore exciting opportunities’

Staff Reporter

PM: We are committed to strengthening autonomy of our nuclear R&D

— Photos: AP/PTI

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presents awards to graduates at the graduation of the 50th batch of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Training School at BARC in Mumbai on Friday.

MUMBAI: Urging the youth of the country to explore the “exciting opportunities” as “there is a nuclear renaissance taking place the world over,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressed the government’s efforts for autonomy in India’s nuclear R&D programme. Speaking at the 50th graduation ceremony of the Training School of the Bhabha Atomic and Research Centre here, the Prime Minister lauded BARC’s contribution in nuclear science and technology.

“The Training School has evolved into a model institute, which is recognised internationally as a school of excellence. It is because of your collective efforts that India is ranked among the top few countries to have mastered the entire Nuclear Fuel Cycle,” he said.

Speaking about the importance of higher education and growth opportunities, he said the government was “fully committed to strengthening the autonomy of our nuclear R&D programme.” He said, “Our unique three-stage programme, which is predicated on the need to utilise our vast thorium deposits, is a logical response to the needs of our economy.”

He said, “I would urge you not to overlook the many other useful applications of nuclear technology. Our nation needs this technology in the areas of agriculture, food preservation, health care and industry.”

Mr. Singh drew attention to the growth and development the country is witnessing and said the graduates of the Training School and the youth should make the most of these changing times.

— Photos: AP/PTI

He said, “When the world is willing to invest in India, in our future, we must also learn to invest in the world, and benefit from this two-way flow of ideas, of goods and services, of people and possibilities.”

Pointing out that those who had gone abroad to study are returning to work in India, Mr. Singh said, “I want to encourage a “reverse brain drain” so that Indians worldwide return home and contribute to our development.”

He said the government believed in investing in education and HRD for a better future. He announced his approval for five new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, eight new IITs , seven new IIMs , and 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology.

Mr. Singh highlighted the decreasing interest in pure sciences and noted that new role models were needed, “I have earlier expressed concern at the declining enrolment in basic sciences in our colleges and universities. We are working to revitalise existing scientific institutions and creating modern new institutes of excellence. But at the end of the day the intellectual imagination of our youth will be fired by great names and great achievements. We need new role models in our scientific community.” Congratulating the toppers of the 50th batch and felicitating the overall toppers of the earlier batches, Mr. Singh said, “I wish to make one appeal. Be bold, be brave, be innovative, be curious and be open to new ideas, new ways of thinking and new ways of doing things. This is the scientific method.”

In his welcome address, Dr. Kakodkar emphasised self-reliance in BARC as the strategic R&D organisation and its development.

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