(a) whether National Council for Educational Research
and Training had a plan to
establish a Science Park at NCERT Campus, New Delhi;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the estimated cost and purpose envisaged for the
project; and
(d) the expenditure has since incurred thereon?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (PROF.RITA VERMA)
(a) & (b): Yes Sir. The Science Park is a part of the
programme for popularization of science being pursued by
NCERT through many projects like science exhibitions,
publication of books in new and applied areas of science,
“Reading to Learn†etc. Visits of schools children will be
arranged to give them opportunity to appreciate the role of
science in daily life. The Park is an ongoing project in
which the existing models will be improved upon and new
models added from time to time and will also be useful for
the visiting teachers and educational functionaries coming
to participate in different NCERT programmes.
(c) & (d): The estimated budget for the current year is Rs.
2,57,800/-. The project aims at development of understanding
of basic principles of science through working models,
creation of awareness about the role of science and
technology and demonstration of the application of
scientific principles through interactive models. About one
lakh rupee has been spent so far only on purchasing raw
material for fabrication of the models installed in the
past.