GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARMENMT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2710
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.06

REMOVAL OF SUPERSTITIONS

2710. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI:

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

a) whether the Government has formulated any specific project aimed at developing scientific temper to fight against superstitions especially in the rural areas;
b) if so, the details thereof;
c) whether as a part of such projects, the Government is proposing to involve NGOs in this task; and
d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MNISTER OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (d): Yes Sir, Government is committed to stimulating scientific temper and fighting superstitions. Increased level of awareness through education, exposing scientific principles behind tricks used by fraudsters, developing capacity for understanding cause and effect in sequential events etc., are objectives addressed through mass media as well as field demonstrations. Training of resource persons and demonstrations for common people have been organized through over 15 NGOs in 20 states/union territories. Using competent and committed NGOs, such efforts have over the past two decades resulted in perceptible increase in the level of understanding of science among people.