Jayakrishnan Vu
Bhubaneswar: Prejudice against research and development and flawed five-year plans are, in the opinion of BS Pani, the former executive director of NALCO, impeding India. Pani was in Bhubaneswar Friday to attend E-Summit 2016, a start up event hosted by IIT Bhubaneswar. He share thoughts on various other aspects in an interview with Orissa POST. Excerpts:
Start-ups are a new rage in India. How would you evaluate this trend?
Start-ups have emerged as enterprising youth are looking to script success stories on their own. Such ventures were rare in our times, which were infamous for the license- and quota-raj, beauracratic interference and massive corruption that would nip initiatives in the bud.
Has the paradigm of research changed from your time?
Our generation failed India; we did not encourage research in the country, causing stagnation in manufacturing for decades.The country’s research and development policy has undergone sea change and the ‘Make in India’ and other investment and entrepreneur-friendly initiatives of the state government are indicators of a paradigm shift aimed at making India a manufacturing hub.
How important is research and development for the Indian industry?
A country cannot prosper unless it becomes a technology owner. India is emerging a leader in product and services. But our technology partners are refusing to transfer technology to us as we are their biggest competitors globally. Recently, PSUs such as DRDO and ISRO have come up with cutting edge research, but the private sector hasn’t kept up. It is high time they, too, started initiatives that can take the country to centre stage of global manufacturing scene.
Your take on comparisons between India and China?
China invested heavily on research and development, and finally emerged a huge market for key equipment in the world. We are forced to pay China for using advanced technology solutions developed by their companies. Chinese firms have won contracts worth millions of dollars for recent projects in the country because our companies stood second to them.
Your advice for youth and parents?
Youth should pursue their dreams and sky is the limit for opportunities. And parents shouldn’t stand in their way. Let them realise their dreams their way. PNN
