Having headed the Technology Mission during the tenure of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Gandhi family’s favourite technocrat Sam Pitroda is back as Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission set up by the UPA Government.And once again Pitroda will be rendering his services free of cost, not drawing any salary like other members of the Commission. Comprising experts in various fields, the Commission will advise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on policy-related matters regarding the management of knowledge areas. It will primarily focus on refurbishing, reviving and redeploying the entire education system so that it can build new knowledge resources.Believed to be the brainchild of Pitroda himself, the Commission will have molecular biologist Dr P.M. Bhargava as the Vice-Chairman. The other members would be chosen by Pitroda. The aim of the NKC, according to the PMO, is to establish India as a ‘‘knowledge power’’ in the world.‘‘The Commission has to develop a concrete plan of action by October 2 this year, and it has to be implemented in the next 36 months by October 2, 2008, when the Commission will wind up, submitting a report on tasks done,’’ disclosed an official.The main terms of reference of the Commission, as approved by the Cabinet — and referred to as the Knowledge Pentagon — include building excellence in the educational system to meet the knowledge challenges of the 21st Century; promote research in Science and Technology; improve the management of institutions engaged in Intellectual Property Rights; promote knowledge applications in agriculture and industry; and to promote the use of knowledge capabilities to make the government effective, transparent, accountable and public-oriented.Working groups from various related ministries — HRD, Science and Technology, Commerce and Industry, Agriculture, and Information Technology — will be associated with the functioning of the Commission. Moreover, ministers in charge of the various ministries will be part of a National Steering Group, headed by the PM, to oversee the Commission’s work.Sources said technical support would be provided to the Commission by a group of 10 young recruits, hired from premier educational institutions like the IIMs and IITs. The Planning Commission would act as the nodal agency for the NKC as regards to administrative work, handling logistics, planning and for budgeting purposes.
