Opinion Science of progress

Much has been said about the state of R&D in science in India and the methods to improve it

The Indian Express

January 14, 2012 03:13 AM IST First published on: Jan 14, 2012 at 03:13 AM IST

Science of progress

Much has been said about the state of R&D in science in India and the methods to improve it. Much of the focus has been on increasing the spend on the sector to 2 per cent of GDP. This is necessary but not sufficient. First,theres no synergy between academia and applied research. Second,remuneration in science R&D is still a pittance. Our best research and teach at American and European universities. Maybe the time has come for the government to think about creating a cadre of scientists/ technologists with better pay scales,and more involvement,interoperability and synergy between academia,applied research and industry.

Pramod Mishra

Ahmedabad

Secure the child

Apropos the editorial Our stunted future (IE,January 12),awareness about nutrition must percolate to vulnerable communities. Anganwadis should promote breastfeeding and convey the importance of immunity-boosting colostrum. The youth could be roped in for innovative schemes like own-an-anganwadi. Every family should be educated about the need to give pregnant and lactating women and the girl child equal priority during meal times. If the HUNGaMA raised now is ignored,then it will only serve to negate the blessings of our demographic dividend.

Sudipta Das

Kolkata

Speak up

This refers to Irena Akbars Reading Rushdie in UP (IE,January 13). She says Muslims have moved on (from the Rushdie controversy) and that Id rather not give her (Ayaan Hirsi Ali) any importance. Does it not behove people like Akbar to come out more strongly against call-for-arms elements in Islam? Is the Rushdie issue really one of time (the writer mentions she was a kid when the fatwa was issued) or one of protecting civil liberties? Why dont people take a more hardened stand against divisive elements?

Vikram Johri

Lucknow

Tighten the belt

The new civil aviation minister is making the right noises (Air India needs to perform,no bailout for rest,says Ajit Singh,IE,January 12),but these words should resonate in the ministrys decisions,especially when it comes to Air India. The decision not to bail out private airlines is most appropriate as their financial woes are entirely self-created. The case of Air India is different and complex as it is bleeding the government of money with its employment strategies and wage structures. The minister should insist that AI become as competitive as any private airline.

Suren Abreu

Mumbai

Modi-fication

Apropos When Narendra Modi fasts�� (IE,January 10),it is true that the Gujarat chief minister is attempting an image makeover for the 2014 parliamentary elections. However,his refusal of the skullcap exposed his feeble efforts at it. One positive aspect is that the nation has now rejected the politics of communalism. This is why even Modi is forced to adopt a secular image.

Umar K. Farooqui,Aurangabad