Nishikant Khajuria
Jammu University is fully geared up for hosting biggest ever event in its history as the 101st Indian Science Congress is all set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on February 3.
JU in collaboration with the State Government and Indian Science Congress has finalized all the arrangements for the five-day mega event, in which more than eight thousand delegates are participating from across the country as well as abroad.
The five-day Congress shall provide a platform for intense discussion on the recent developments in the field of Science & Technology in the country and abroad. Main theme of this year’s Science Congress is “Innovations in Science and Technology for Inclusive Development”.
During the Congress, the event will have 14 sessions namely Agriculture and Forestry Sciences; Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences; Anthropological and Behavioral Sciences (including Archaeology and Psychology & Educational Sciences); Chemical Sciences; Earth System Sciences; Engineering Sciences; Environmental Sciences; Information and Communication Science & Technology (including Computer Sciences); Material Sciences; Mathematical Sciences (including Statistics); Medical Sciences (including Physiology); New Biology (including Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology and Biotechnology); Physical Sciences and Plant Sciences.
Besides, ‘Women Science Congress’, ‘Children Science Congress’, ‘Science Exhibition’ and ‘Science Communicators Meet’ are main attractions of the mega event. Further, there shall be special Symposia on J&K titled “Science and Technology Imperatives and Opportunities for Sustainable Development of J&K”.
The grass-root session on “Rural Innovators” will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on very first day of the event while former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam will inaugurate the Women Science Congress as well as Children Science Congress on February 4.
Nobel Laurates Prof Y Lee, president International Council for Science ICSU and Dr Farid Murad and International experts along with national luminaries from different streams of Science, teachers,
young scholars and students, leaders of many Science Academies from other countries are participating in this Congress. The auditorium and other locations where various events of the Science Congress will be held, are ready. The state-of-the-art “Pandaal” with 10 thousand sitting capacity has been raised near Gymnasium Hall of the University for the main functions, such as inaugural and valedictory sessions. This huge structure has all auditorium like facilities and features like water-proofing, acoustics, stages, IT equipped and adequate fire-safety measures.
Similar make-shift structures have been raised for the food court near residential quarters, media lounge adjoining the Law School complex, hospitality lounge and registration counter in front of the Dhanvantri Library and Science Exhibition in the main ground near the Guest House.
For the Children Science Congress, temporary cabins have been erected in the Gymnasium Hall where the students from different institutions will display their science models. Arrangements for the Women Science Congress have been made in the Business School Hall.
For the arrangements and infrastructure, the JU has taken help of State Government as well as the Indian Army, which contributed by constructing two temporary bridges linking the gap between main campus and residential area.
Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who are Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, respectively of the Jammu University, are taking keen interest in the Science Congress and have extended all out assistance to ensure best possible arrangements for success of the event.
On directions of the Governor and Chief Minister, an apex committee and High Level Monitoring Committee consisting of Iqbal Khandey ,Chief Secretary; B R Sharma, Principal Secretary Planning & Development, B B Vyas, Principal Secretary to CM and Finance Secretary; Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, Principal Secretary Higher Education; Arun Mehta, Principal Secretary PDD and others, has been formed to direct the preparations for the Science Congress.
The Indian Science Congress Association president Dr R C Sobti, is personally monitoring all the arrangements for which Jammu University has appointed Prof Meena Sharma and Prof Naresh Padha as the local Secretaries besides constituting a number of management committees for different tasks.
For accommodation of the visiting delegates, hotels, state guest house, circuit-house, Saraswati Dham, Vaishnavi Dham and University Guest houses have been booked.
In view of the event, heavy deployment of Police has been made all around the campus, which has been fully sealed for the outsiders with no vehicle being allowed to enter the main gate. Metal detectors have been installed on every entry point besides frisking of everyone by the security personal.
Special biometric passes have been issued to the media persons for covering the event and those associated with the Science Congress.
Since the scheduled Science Congress is biggest ever event in the history of Jammu University, all eyes are set on its proceedings and successful completion with the hope that things would move in right direction only.
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