The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Help the common man, VS urges scientists

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Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Help the common man, VS urges scientists

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister inaugurates Kerala Science Congress

Photo: S. Mahinsha

All for research: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan presents a compilation of papers after inaugurating the 20th Kerala Science Congress in the city on Monday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has called on scientists to help prevent the emergence and spread of epidemics like chikungunya and dengue fever that are posing a challenge to the health sector in Kerala.

Speaking after inaugurating the 20th Kerala Science Congress here on Monday, he reminded scientists of their role in ensuring supply of pure and safe drinking water to the people.

“The government is concerned about the diminishing groundwater situation in Kerala and the pollution of water sources by industrial effluents. The scientific community has to come up with guidelines for quality assurance and utilisation of water,” he said.

Threats to nature

Highlighting the threats to soil, water, forests and other natural resources in Kerala, he urged the science and technology institutions and the scientists working there to address these challenges.

Mr. Achuthanandan stressed the need for these institutions to come up with high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties of agricultural crops and less labour-intensive farming technologies.

“This is the time to work hard towards increasing agricultural production and ensuring food security.”

More institutions

The Chief Minister said the government was planning to establish institutions aimed at the developmental and industrialisation needs of the State. “Initial steps have been taken to set up the Kerala Mineral Research and Developmental Centre and the Kerala Institute for Environmental Science and Technology. We are also planning to establish a Centre for Traditional Knowledge and a National Institute for Sustainable Coastal Zone Development.”

State’s ‘leap’

He said Kerala was poised for a giant leap in the field of science and technology. “The Indian Institute of Space Technology is already established. The Government of India has decided to set up the third Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Thiruvananthapuram.

Land for this institution will be made available at Vithura. It will start functioning from the next academic year. Other institutes of higher education like the Central University, Institute of Molecular Materials and Institute of Information Technology are also in the process of being established in the State.”

On IIT for State

The Chief Minister said Kerala was expected to get one of the four Indian Institutes of Technology to be opened during the 11th Five Year Plan. These institutions, he said, would help facilitate major achievements in the field of science and technology in the State. He urged scientists to direct their efforts to solving socially-relevant problems which affect the lives of the common man. “Development means improvement of the quality of life of each citizen,” he added.

The Chief Minister presented the Dr. S.Vasudev Award 2007 to K.D. Prathapan, Assistant Professor, Kerala Agriculture University. Executive Vice-President of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) E.P. Yesodharan presided over the inaugural function.

Chairman of the Kerala Science Congress R.V.G. Menon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala M.K.Ramachandran Nair and C.P.Sehgal of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India also spoke.

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