Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Apr 16 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that every sector in India today is dependent on Science and Technology, but what is lacking is awareness about suitable technology applications for sector-specific problems and the StartUp avenues.
In an exclusive media interview, Dr Jitendra Singh said, many of the Ministries and Departments of the Central Government can avail of scientific applications and solutions for the specific problems in a very cost-effective manner. He reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always stressed on an integral approach rather than working in silos to bring in “Ease of Living” for the common man.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, taking a cue from Modi’s out-of-box approach, in the recent past all the seven different Departments and Ministries related to Science, namely, Science & Technology, Biotechnology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR), Earth Sciences, India Meteorological Department(IMD), Atomic Energy and Space held brainstorming sessions with each of the Line Ministries like Agriculture, Jal Shakti, Railways, Health, Highways, etc.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that so far over 200 proposals/requirements were received from 38 Line Ministries/Departments for Scientific Applications and Technological Support & Solutions. He said, concerned Science Ministries and Departments are on the job applying different scientific solutions for sectors like agriculture, land mapping, dairy, food, education, skill, railways, roads, Jal Shakti, power, coal and sewage cleaning to name a few. He said, building on from previous such meetings, Joint Working Groups are being set up between Science Departments and Line Ministries to speed up identification of the scientific applications for proposals and problems of Line Ministries.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, Drone technology is being applied in agriculture for irrigation, spraying of pesticides and manuring the field thus bringing savings to farmers input costs. Similarly Space technology is being increasingly applied for telemedicine, drought mapping in agriculture and in Railways for rectifying unmanned crossings and for prevention of possible accidents. The Minister said, he has instructed the scientists and officers in various departments for use of Artificial-Intelligence and Robotics in medicine and surgery. He also referred to UV technology developed by CSIR installed in Parliament and now being extended to Railways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 virus.
In reply to a question, Dr Jitendra Singh said, each of the States and Union Territories has been asked to identify the areas where technological interventions can help in resolving diverse problems to enable ease of living for common man. He said, for instance the UT Government of Jammu & Kashmir will be assisted through the latest snow clearing technology of the Dal Lake, while Puducherry and Tamil Nadu are being assisted in restoration and renovation of sea-beach. He said, Aroma Mission in Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of Leh Berry in Ladakh are all happening due to suitable scientific interventions and creating lakhs of job opportunities, besides promoting local sustainable start-ups.
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