GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3475
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23-12-2008

PROMOTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE STATES

3475. SHRI SURESH ANGADI:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether in a recent meet, the Union Minister urged the Science Ministers of different States to make use of modern science and technology to solve the problems of development in their States ;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with other highlights of the meet ; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to implement the issues discussed in the meeting and the reaction of the States thereto?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) Yes, Sir. The Union Minister urged the State Science & Technology Ministers to make use of modern science and technology to solve the problems of development in their States in the Brainstorming Meeting held on 12th May, 2008 at New Delhi.

(b) 26 States and Union Territories participated in the meeting. The States, inter-alia were advised to establish Science, Technology and Innovation Councils/Vision Councils for their respective States for developing roadmap for S&T activities and strengthening coordination between States and Central Scientific Agencies. It was also decided to mount a state specific S&T based development action plan funded by the Centre for all the States. Emphasis was given to the areas of human resources development and geo-spatial technology applications including mapping of large cities for urban planning.

(c) The recommendations of the Brainstorming Meeting were conveyed to all the States and Union Territories. Some of the States have formed Vision Councils and submitted project proposals for financial support.