India should recapture its scientific glory: Naidu

Chennai, Oct 16 (IANS) Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said it was time to achieve new advancements in science and technology and India should recapture its past glory in these fields.

Speaking at the concluding session of India International Science Festival-2017 (IISF), Naidu said Indians have made significant contribution to science and time has come to regain the glory with new advancements in science and technology.

Listing out various challenges faced by mankind now, Naidu said only science can help to solve these problems.

Naidu urged everyone to take responsibility for progress and promotion of science apart from the government. He stressed the need for a concentrated effort to improve teaching, research and development of technologies in the country.

The Vice-President congratulated everyone for achieving the Guinness World Record of 'The largest Biology Lesson' and on the successful completion of IISF 2017.

Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences lauded the scientific community of India for achieving 14 per cent growth rate in scientific publication as compared to a world growth rate of four per cent.

Vardhan also highlighted the various international cooperation agreed upon with the visiting Ministers of Afghanistan and Bangladesh for promoting and advancing science in the neighbouring countries.

He made many announcements in his IISF 2017 valedictory speech such as (i) fellowships for film-makers to make films that promote science and tackles problems of the common people (ii) zero-pollution firecrackers to be researched and developed together by scientists and manufacturers (iii) The Ksheer Tester will be available to all and will help counter milk adulteration and (iv) latest dental implant developed and will soon be commercialised.

Vardhan expressed belief in science and that it will be a major instrument that will deliver a aNew India' to Indians by 2022, as is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The valedictory function was also attended by Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Y.S. Chowdary, Governor of Tamil Nadu, Banwarilal Purohit, Minister of Science & Technology, Industry and Higher Education of Tamil Nadu, K.P. Anbalagan and Minister for Fisheries and Personnel and Administrative Reforms, D. Jayakumar.