Prime Minister Modi calls on Scientists to find solutions for problems of the country

Imphal, March 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called on scientists to find solutions for problems of the country using science and technology. Inaugurating the 105th Indian Science Congress at Manipur University Narendra Modi called on scientists to find solutions for major socio –economic challenges, pollution, eco-system, malnutrition etc.  
“We need science and technology to help us make India clean, green and prosperous. Let me re-iterate some of my expectations from scientists. A large section of our tribal population is affected by Sickle Anaemia. Can our Scientists come up with a simple, cost-effective solution to this problem in the near future. A large proportion of our children are affected by malnutrition”, Narendra Modi said.
The prime Minister further said that India requires crores of new houses.
“Can our scientists adopt 3D printing technology to help us meet this demand? Our rivers are polluted. It requires your innovative ideas and new technologies to clean them. We need a multi-pronged approach including efficient solar and wind power, energy storage and electric mobility solutions, clean cooking, conversion of coal to clean fuels like methanol, cleaner power from coal, smart grids, micro-grids and bio-fuels.
On Power sector, the Prime Minister said that the government is targetting 100 Giga Watts of installed solar power by 2022.
“Efficiency of solar modules currently available in the market is around 17% to 18%.Can our scientists take a challenge to come up with a more efficient solar module, which can be produced in India at the same cost?
“We need to develop new procedures, medicines, and vaccines to get rid of silent killers like Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis”, Narendra Modi said.
At the beginning of his speech, the Prime Minister paid tributes to three distinguished Indian scientists– Padma Vibhushan Prof Yashpal, Padma Vibhushan Prof UR Rao and Padma Shri DrBaldev Raj as well as renowned Physicist Stephen Hawking who had left for heavenly abode recently.
“The common man knows Hawking’s name, not because of his work on black holes, but because of his unusually high commitment and spirit against all odds”, Modi said.
The Indian Science Congress is being held in North East region for the 2nd time.
The Prime Minister also redefined ‘R&D’ as ‘Research’ for the ‘Development’ of the nation and also appealed to commit ourselves to facilitate ‘Ease of Living’ for 125 crore Indians, through the power as well as potential of science and technology.
The Prime Minister also reminded April 1944, when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’ INA gave a clarion call for freedom in Manipur.
He said the State Climate Change Centres have been set up in seven North-Eastern States and said that the government is revamping the National Bamboo Mission with an outlay of Rs. 1200 crore. Manipur among others will be benefited from the decision.
The Prime Minister said that the Indian Science Congress has a rich legacy. It has been led by some of India’s tallest scientists, such as Acharya J.C. Bose, C.V. Raman, Meghnad Saha and S.N. Bose. New India, should seek inspiration from the high standards of excellence, set by these great scientists.
The theme for the Indian Science Congress this year, “Reaching the Unreached through Science and Technology” is termed as appropriate saying that it is very close to his heart.