Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 22 : Emphasizing the tremendous role of science and technology in nation building, N N Vohra, Governor has called for creating a vast corpus of scientists and technocrats to tackle varied problems and taking the State and the country forward on the path of self-reliance, progress and prosperity.
The Governor was inaugurating the 5-day 3rd Science Camp for “Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)” for students, organized by the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar at SKICC here today. This Science Camp, in which more than 500 talented 10+2 science students from the Kashmir valley are participating, has been sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under its INSPIRE Programme.
The Governor observed “unless we are a sound knowledge society we cannot achieve rapid development and growth”, adding “in Jammu and Kashmir we have to deal, perhaps more than several other parts of India, challenges which are being generated by climate change and global warming.” He said that tackling such complex problems requires expertise in various arenas of scientific knowledge as such scientific and technical knowledge is the key to addressing problems and speeding up the pace of growth.
He impressed upon the students to fully avail the excellent opportunity afforded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to hear and interact with the best known scientific brains in the country in these INSPIRE Camps, and also decide to pursue studies in the science stream by availing the support being offered to them.
Abdul Gani Malik, Minister for Higher Education, stressed for availability of adequate trained human resource to secure speedy development of any area. He said that there is need for a well planned management of knowledge keeping in view the present and future requirements of the State in all spheres of development. For this purpose, he added that talent needs to be attracted and INSPIRE Programme provides this opportunity.
Prof Asis Datta, former Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, observed that youth are the future of the country, who are to shoulder the responsibility of nation building. He said that science and technology has a great role in the development process and it must be uppermost in our minds that how the country and the people benefit from this knowledge.
Prof Abdul Wahid, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir, observed that knowledge is power, adding that acquiring knowledge is imperative for growth and development. He said that study of science is all the more important as it inspires us to go in for innovations effecting human lives. In this context, he dwelt on the initiatives taken by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to attract talented students for pursuing science as a career. Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, speaking on the occasion expressed the hope that more and more students would pursue science as a career.
Gazzanfar Hussain, Secretary, Higher Education, hoped that organizing of INSPIRE Programmes would go a long way in attracting young minds to the study of science and pursue science as a career.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rajat Gupta, Director, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, gave details of the students and the scientists participating in the third INSPIRE camp being organized by the National Institute of Technology.
In his welcome address, Prof. M. D. Mufti, stated that more than 800 students participated in the earlier two such Programmes organized by the Institute.
Dr. M. A. Shah, Convener, INSPIRE-III, presented a Vote of Thanks.
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