(a) whether the Government has urged the scientists to redefine the research work for the benefit of the society;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action plan prepared by the Government in this regard;
(c) the present status of the proposal regarding extension of retirement age of the scientists;
(d) the number of scientists likely to be benefited therefrom; and
(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
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(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) through its various wings namely, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) urged the scientists to do innovative research for the benefit of society which has been very well articulated in Science Technology and Innovation (STI) policy. In this endeavor, MoST with its departments have specific programs and various schemes designed to promote science and technology interventions for societal benefits as actionable plan to support grant-in-aid projects.
Some schemes/programmes are exclusively designed to address challenges pertaining to grassroot and vulnerable sections of the society particularly, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Women, Divyangjan & Elderly through involvement of Science and Technology (S&T). The major initiatives of DST in this area are Technological Advancement for Rural Areas (TARA), Technology Interventions for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE), Technological Intervention for Addressing Societal Needs (TIASN),Science and Technology for Women and S&T Hubs for SC and ST population. These schemes and programmes primarily support technology driven actionable projects. S&T based knowledge institutions, field based developmental agencies and S&T driven Voluntary Organizations are given support for projects in this area.
DST is also encouraging young researchers and women scientists with break in career to take up societal issues/challenges for their research and adaptive R&D through Scheme for Young Scientists and Technologists (SYST) and Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B).
(c) There is no such proposal regarding extension of retirement age of the scientists.
(d) & (e): Does not arise.
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