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| India’s Top Thought Leaders provide their vision and ideas on draft STIP |
There has been a
digital revolution with immense changes in technology in the last few years. While
accounting for this change, we need to have rootedness in the culture. One step
in that direction is the strengthening of language labs. Besides, practical
implementation is important for STI for large scale learning. This policy
document aims at taking everything into consideration to shape the future of
the country,” said Professor K VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to
the Government of India, at the consultation organized through a webinar on
January 23, 2021. He stressed the need to incorporate the Policy Process
Framework Document and the implementation strategy in the final document.
Secretary, DST Prof Ashutosh Sharma said “To be ready for the future, states need to connect with the center and use science, technology, and innovation to solve their problems. At the same time, international connections, and science diplomacy needs equal attention”. He added that in India, “we focus on generated knowledge, but we need to consume them properly to bring innovation- connecting innovation to knowledge
There have been 300 rounds of consultations. For the first time, we have consulted States, line ministries, and the Indian diaspora. These kinds of consultations would make the document more inclusive,” said Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Advisor, DST, and Head STIP Secretariat.
Former
Member of National Disaster Management Authority, Secretary of Department of
Ocean Development and the world’s renowned seismologist Dr. Harsh Gupta stressed the need for a
roadmap and implementation mechanism coupled with a timeline for manpower and
financial plan for increased investment in science and technology.
Prof Sheila
Jasanoff, Science and Technology Studies expert at Harvard Kennedy
School in the USA said that the role of social sciences, humanities as well
as ethics is equally important in any country, and the policy should reflect
it.
Former Secretary
General of Rajya Sabha and Chief Secretary of UP, Shri Yogendra Narain,
highlighted the need for training of supervisors who would supervise research
and also about the necessity of strengthening institutional collaboration.
Honorary Professor at
the Indian Institute of Science Professor Ajay Sood emphasized the necessity to
consider the role of academies in the country and the academies, especially in
science diplomacy, involving them in more engaging ways so that they become
active and contribute more meaningfully.
Former Professor of
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and world’s renowned expert in
grassroots innovations, Professor Anil Gupta underlined the importance of
bringing art closer to science and emphasized the role of culture in
institutions. He also stressed acknowledging every knowledge provider and on
reaching out to the masses through existing networks like Krishi Vigyan
Kendras, Indian Railways, and post offices on a daily basis.
Noted environmentalist
and Director General of Centre for Science and Environment Dr. Sunita Narain
underscored the need to move to social science and said that science needs to
be more engaging. “Engagement of Indian science with people need to increase
like it has happened in case of flood forecasting and cyclone forecasting,” she
added.
Makarand R Paranjape,
Director, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, spoke about including the
integration of disciplines in the policy and the need for fostering a culture
of excellence throughout the country.”
Shobita Parthasarathy,
Professor of Public Policy, Director, Science, Technology, and Public Policy
program; at the University of Michigan, advocated for a balance between society,
environment, and economy. “Grassroots innovation and traditional knowledge is
the strength of India and often offer solutions to problems. Women play a key
role in the majority of grassroots innovations and their role should be
acknowledged,” she pointed out.
Dr. Anil Prakash
Joshi, founder of Himalayan Environmental
Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO), said that in a country like India, where the larger population lives in rural areas, and a policy must reflect their needs and aspirations. “There is a need for the scientific validity of traditional knowledge,” he added.
Dr. Rajeshwari
Rajagopalan, Distinguished Fellow, and Head of the Nuclear and Space Policy
Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), pointed out that there
should be provision for periodic audit of investment and benefits, and the policy should focus on reversal of brain drain and how to retain best brains
and bring back the best minds to the country.
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