“Sc & Tech ministry has special attention for NE states”

IMPHAL, Dec 27: The North Eastern region has gained special attention from the Ministry of Science and Technology for special interventions and popularization of science and technology among all section of the society and states of the region which is a major focus area of National Science and Technology Communication Council (SCSTC), Vigyan Prasar and many laboratories of Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).
A PIB release has mentioned that, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has developed a special package for promoting science education in colleges of the North Eastern Region. Support has been extended to 58 colleges for the upgradation of facilities for science education. The ministry has been organizing and supporting several flagship programme on “Understanding Planet Earth”, National Science Day programmes for talented students, training courses on science writing/ journalism, etc. During 2009-10, more than 40 projects on science popularization for NE region were supported. CSIR has been conducting a CSIR programme on Youth for leadership in science for the students of NE states through North-East Institute for Science and Technology Jorhat. Department of Biotechnology has been implemented programmes for supporting education in life sciences and biotechnology areas.  Special programmes for adding values to natural resources from the region have been conducted by DBT the release added.
The PIB release further stated that the programmes are delivered through community based organizations with focus on application of science and technology for adding value to locally available natural resources. Training workshops and science awareness activities are conducted for social groups belonging to these communities.
Popularization of science among the SC/ST population is coupled with skill development, technology information, capacity enhancement and knowledge about value addition to locally available natural resources. On an average, 20 programmes per year are being organized to address exclusively the science and technology initiatives for SC/ST population, the release added.