Let’s talk output

It is now well recognised that the business of government is to govern and not to do business. Any government could be efficient if it would...

It is now well recognised that the business of government is to govern and not to do business. Any government could be efficient if it would confine itself to the enactment and implementation of laws, leaving the task of conducting business and production and research to individuals and their ingenuity. While the government has been trying to close down loss-incurring public sector enterprises and privatising large ventures, it has so far not thought of privatising the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Labs.

Perhaps, the government has not paid enough attention to such research laboratories because the investment involved is not as high as several other industrial undertakings and the market sale potential may not be very high. But the government should understand that there is an urgent need to improve the performance of such CSIR Labs which have a crucial role to play in the technological and economic future of the country. The only way of significantly improving the performance of CSIR Labs is to hand them over to more capable private sector entrepreneurs.

Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation for the concept and role of CSIR Labs. While facilities have been created and infrastructure has been built, commensurate results were not obtained. Several CSIR Labs such as CECRI Karaikudi, NCL Pune, IICT Hyderabad have achievements to show, but these are inadequate if one does a cost-benefit analysis.

Story continues below this ad

A scrutiny of several CSIR Labs indicates that they are subject to the laws of diminishing returns. The main cause is the inadequate income and their inability to generate value for the work they have carried out. Scientists in the CSIR Labs have developed a bureaucratic culture, where output is not the norm for promotion and career advancement. With little incentives to work and a lack of accountability, many scientists start and end their career in CSIR Labs, with not an achievement to show.

With stagnant or falling income, the increasing reluctance of government to release more grants and rising salaries and operational costs, the major preoccupation of CSIR Labs is to reduce costs and save expenditures. Many of them achieve this objective by curtailing subscription for journals and publications which should be the priority expenditure for any scientific organisation and not filling up vacancies caused by the retirement or death of employees. Several CSIR Labs have a large percentage of scientists in the age group of 40 plus with younger persons becoming scarce.

What CSIR Labs need today is a massive input of plans and strategies appropriate to the country’s requirements and in tune with the international trends. Just like products and services, research activities also require strategic vision and forward planning. Scientists in the CSIR Labs must be relieved from control of government agencies, if they are to improve performance.

H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear?

Explained8 hr ago

The White House's decision to impose a $100,000 entry fee on H-1B visa holders has sparked worry among Indian tech workers and students. While uncertainties remain about its implementation and exemptions, major tech companies have cautioned employees against traveling. The policy could lead to a shift towards other visa categories and potentially change the STEM immigration pipeline.

View all shorts

Live Blog