'Long-term grants favoured for top groups, candidates'

To create the right climate for innovation and creativity to blossom, the Science Advisory Council has recommended long-term grants with flexibility for research and other creative purposes to outstanding individuals and groups, its Chairman C N R Rao said.

“While serious effort is required on part of central and state governments, help from private sector is equally essential to achieve this objectivity. It is necessary that the entire society cooperates in eliminating mediocrity from all spheres of life and also in creating an ambience where scholarship and science get due respect,” he said, briefing reporters about the recommendations made by the Council to the Prime Minister for the 12th Five-Year Plan.

 

More importantly, bureaucracy in science administration has to be eliminated. “We have to find new ways of administering science and this may require changing the structures of our institutions as well as administrative and auditing practices,” Rao said.

Rao reminded that India at present “contributes only 2.5 per cent to world science (research) and only .5 per cent or so to the top 1 per cent of scientific research. In the next 10 to 15 years, we should try to reach a level where 10 per cent of the top 1 per cent scientific research comes from India. “We are envisaging an investment of about Rs 2.2 lakh crore in science in the 12th Five-Year Plan, with Rs 1.5-1.8 lakh crore coming from the government and rest from the private sector,” he said.

The council has suggested awarding major grants in areas such as energy, health, agriculture and environment after calling for proposals. This will also help in establishing connectivity between institutions in different spheres.

Rao said it was important to recognise that “real progress in science occurs because of small science carried out by individual scientists or small groups of scientists in their little laboratories”.

Meanwhile, he said, he would write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on conferring the nation’s highest award “Bharat Ratna” on late Homi Bhabha in recognituion of his contribution to Indian Science. He was reacting to Mumbai Cricket Association passing a resolution to bestow “Bharat Ratna” on Sachin Tendulkar. “It is sad that on Sunday cricket is getting more importance than science. I have no problem about Sachin being considered for the award, but what about Bhabha? We must at least have the courtesy to recognise the immense contribution made by this luminary posthumously.”

“I am going to write a letter to the Prime Minister about this,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.