'Science policy needs broader vision'

Science policy is integrated to the society, to the nation and changes in it should take note of the present situation for meeting the requirements, said department of space (ISRO) senior advisor M G K Menon in Mysore.

Menon summarised the present situation in the country as follows "� large forex reserves, reasonable, but inadequate growth rate, increasing gap between rich and poor, poor infrastructure, poor social sector, remarkable growth of industrial capabilities, adequate food supply, but poor access.

"Against this, we are witnessing rapid globalisation which is inevitable; rapid advance towards a knowledge society, which is another major development mainly because of IT and digital divide and, advance of science and technology, which is very rapid and difficult to keep pace with.

"In the background of this", the former union minister, who was delivering a lecture on "Evolution of science policy & changes needed as we move into the future," said, "You cannot think of marginal changes. If you think of solving the problems of a country like India, you cannot think of minor alterations."