Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Friday unveiled the new Science and Technology Policy that promises to put India among the developed nations in the 21st century.
Inaugurating the 90th Indian Science Congress in Bangalore, Vajpayee said: "The objectives of the new policy show that India can respond to the breathtaking changes that have been taking place in the world of science and technology. My vision is to embrace science and technology in all its true spirit to realise our dream of making India a developed nation," Vajpayee said.
Outlining the objectives of the new policy, Vajpayee said some of the thrust areas for the Indian science now and in the coming years would be in consolidating the gains the country had made in agricultural science and in achieving higher productivity in pulses, oil seeds, vegetables, dairying, fisheries, horticulture and cultivation of medicinal and energy plants.
"Application of new scientific and technological capabilities generated through biotechnology, IT, and space technologies should be extensively pursued. Minimising wastage of farm produce continues to be a neglected area in most
Referring to the targets set by the Planning Commission for the next five years, Vajpayee said productivity-led growth was the path India must take to attain the ambitious target of 8 per cent GDP growth.
"The government will require appropriate science and technology inputs at all levels and in all sectors of the economy from the scientific, academic, and industrial communities to pave the path," he said.
Expressing concern over the lack of basic healthcare facilities, land, and drinking water for millions of citizens, Vajpayee said India was facing critical challenges in meeting these requirements.
Calling upon the scientific community to address these issues on priority, the prime minister said: "It is inevitable that we develop advanced energy technologies capable of making use of domestic energy resources and satisfying modern environmental norms."
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