Jatni: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday asked scientists to work towards developing affordable and sustainable technologies, which will have ‘zero effect’ and ‘zero defect’, to benefit common men of the country.
“Our scientists should work towards creating affordable and sustainable technologies having zero effect and zero defect,” the Prime Minister told a gathering after inaugurating the new campus of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) here.
The PM said zero effect, according to him, is the technology which doesn’t have negative impact or side effects on environment while zero defect would mean the technology can be globally accepted.
Stating that science and technology should be affordable for common people, he said, everybody engaged in research may not get a Nobel Prize but the real award for them is to make their invention useful for common people.
The Prime Minister called upon young scientists of the institute to work towards preservation of solar power and innovate new ways to save energy. Though it’s a challenge for us, we can do this by harnessing solar power, Modi said. “Orissa is the land of sun as the sun temple is here. Cannot we make the best use of sunlight to preserve solar energy? he asked.
Stressing use of solar energy, he said, 122 countries in the world have decided to form a solar alliance whose capital will be in India. Citing the example of LED bulbs, he said If 100 (smart) cities use LED bulbs, the country will save 20,000 MW of power. A small technological advance could save crores of rupees.
While stating that his government is planning to accomplish the mission of providing houses to all by 2022, the PM asked scientists to create wealth from wastes. If materials can be developed using waste generated in cities, it would be of immense help in providing affordable houses to the poor across the country.
Speaking on bringing about blue revolution, he said, “Our forefathers describe the ocean as ‘Ratnakar’ because of the wealth in the ocean. Scientific research should be in the area of marine areas.
He termed Orissa as a treasure of black diamond, saying with coal available in abundance here, affordable, cheap and green technology should be developed so that coal gasification could be developed here.
Stating that scientific temper should be infused among students, he urged NISER faculties and students to work with rural science teachers and share knowledge about new developments in science.
Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai, an award winner at Google Science Fair, ASHA worker Jamuna Mani Singh and student scientist Srikant Sahu were felicitated by the PM.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor SC Jamir, Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan were among those present at the function. PNN
