Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurates
Indian Science Congress

     Hyderabad: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the 93rd Indian Science Congress (ISC) at the Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University (ANGRAU) at Rajendranagar here. During the inaugural function, PM urged the scientific community to pursue good quality science, world class research and yet be able to address the needs of development and employment creation in rural India.

     PM said that despite the advances made in science, the challenge of bridging the development gap between urban and rural India, of increasing rural incomes, of increasing agricultural productivity, forever ending the so-called divide between Bharat and India, still remained. To achieve this, Dr. Singh pointed to the need for a Second Green Revolution in non-food crops, in horticulture and in new plant varieties. Referring to the programme for "Agriculture Renewal" suggested by the National Commission of Farmers that could be the starting point of Second Green Revolution, the PM laid out a seven-point package. However, the Second Green Revolution would not be possible without a rejuvenation of agricultural universities and research institutions, he added. Highlighting the need to encourage people living in rural areas to continue to live there, the Prime Minister stressed the need to improve the quality of life and to provide more amenities to them. "New functional townships must be developed, away from existing cities, but equipped with basic infrastructure, to attract new investment in manufacturing and services sector in rural areas", he added. Singh highlighted the three challenges that science and technology must address - first, to increase agricultural productivity, the productivity of land, labour and other factors of production, second, to develop affordable and appropriate technologies for energy and water and third, to promote labour- using, yet efficient and relevant technologies in both, farm and non-farm sector. PM also stated that there should be a science-based solution for water and energy needs of the nation. He also asked the scientists and states to work on interlinking of rivers to reduce dependence on ground water.

     The Prime Minister gave away the first India Science Congress award to Professor C N R Rao and also released a publication of the Science Congress. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Governor, Andhra Pradesh, Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Y S R Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Professor I V Subba Rao, General President, Indian Science Congress, were among the distinguished guests present on the occasion.

     After attending the ISC, Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for an outer ring road and address the gathering before leaving for Port Blair at around 1.20 pm to visit tsunami-affected areas. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Prime Minister's visit as well as for the ISC in the wake of terrorist attack at the IISc in Bangalore on December 28. Security forces, including some companies of Central forces, have been deployed to provide security to top scientists attending the five-day science meet. The Prime Minister who arrived here on Monday night was received at the airport by Andhra Pradesh Governor Sushilkumar Shinde, Chief Minister YS Rajaesekhar Reddy, his Cabinet colleagues and officials.

    President APJ Abdul Kalam will inaugurate the theme of the Science Congress - `Integrated Rural Development: Science and Technology' - on January 5, Chief Minister YS Rajaesekhar Reddy said. "Kalam will also participate in the first-ever National Virtual Congress of Farmers and Children Science Congress and interact with farmers from five states through video-conferencing," he added. Three Noble laureates, Amartya Sen, Richard R Ernst and Wangari Mathai are expected to participate in the meet including other 6,000 delegates. During the meet, discussions will be held on various issues including how to make science beneficial for the poor, also involving non-governmental agencies, farmers and industry representatives. The five-day Conference will be attended by about 2500 delegates, including 89 delegates from about 25 countries.