Centre determined to make science user-friendly and people-centric : Harsh Vardhan

KOLKATA, May 4:  The Central Government, under the leadership of  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to make science user-friendly  and people-centric and it is ensuring to help Government programmes  through science in the country, said Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister  for Science, Technology and Earth Science, here today.
He inaugurated the phase-IV building of Rashtriya Atlas Bhavan  (Printing Press and Camera Section) of the National Atlas and Thematic  Mapping Organisation (NATMO) in the city.
Speaking to media, he said, ” Digital India programme launched by the  Prime Minister is a movement to make poorest of the poor across the  country access all the facilities provided by the Government. ”
He said, ”  India stands third in Nano technology, while it holds fifth  rank in scientific publications globally. India is making a fast growth in  science and it is only after China. ”
The Minister said, ” Science and Technology is playing a major role  in popularizing Stand-Up and Start-Up programmes to empower the  youth in the country. 400 per cent financial support has been provided  to promote these programmes.
The Prime Minister has allocated Rs 10,000 crore for Start-Up and Stand-Up programmes. ”
He congratulated NATMO, Kolkata, for recently publishing a braille  atlas for visually impaired students to enable them study maps.
The braille atlas has been made using indigenously developed  silk-screen painting technology. NATMO has also planned to prepare  maps of smart cities.
It has so far published around 1000 maps and  65 atlas.
Director, NATMO, Tapati Banerjee welcomed the Minister along  with other scientists and dignitaries on the occasion. (UNI)