Question : DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

(a) whether the Union Government has taken any steps for the appropriate development of science and technology in Daman and Diu;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the funds allocated for the said work by the Union Government during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;

(d) the details of organisations related to science and technology functioning in Daman and Diu; and

(e) the number of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes students which can be admitted in these organisations?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (ASHWANI KUMAR)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Union Government under its various Plan Programmes of Ministry of Science & Technology has been strengthening S&T activities in the Union Territory of Daman & Diu as per the following ways:
# Increased Annual Plan allocation for S&T Research Activities by the Planning Commission

# Implementation of Plan Schemes of Department of Science & Technology (DST) like Innovation of Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), Strengthening of State Department of Science & Technology, Popularization of Science & Technology, Strengthening of Science Museum at Daman, Renewable Sources of Energy etc.

# The Central National Laboratories of CSIR, ICAR, ICMR etc. situated in the neighboring states such as Gujarat, Goa & Maharashtra cover Union Territory of Daman & Diu in various R&D and other society related S&T activities.

(c) The Planning Commission has allocated the funds to the Union Territory of Daman & Diu for carrying out above S&T activities in its Annual Plan Rs.35.00 lakhs, Rs.40.00 lakhs, Rs.58.00 lakhs and agreed Rs.60.00 lakhs for the financial year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. Apart from Planning Commission, Department of Science & Technology has sanctioned the funds to the Union Territory of Daman & Diu under its INSPIRE Award Scheme and organization of District Level Exhibitions and Project Competitions (DLEPCs), State Level Exhibitions and Project Competitions (SLEPCs) and National Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (NLEPC) during the last three years and current year i.e. Rs.2.25 lakhs (45 awards), Rs.4.80 lakhs (96 awards), Rs.2.10 lakhs (42 awards) during 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. However no award proposal received during 2010-11. In addition to the above during 2011-12, Rs.2.10 lakhs was sanctioned for District, State and National Level Exhibition and Project competition.

(d) & (e): There is no Union Government supported S&T institution functioning in the Union Territory of Daman & Diu. However under the INSPIRE award scheme of Ministry of Science & Technology, out of 96 awards given to Daman & Diu students, 5, 7, 54 awards were for SC, ST, OBC respectively during 2011-12. For the current year 2012-13 (upto August, 2012), out of 42 students awards given, SC-5 and OBC-24.