India losing out to West in technology, says Sibal

New Delhi, July 9 (UNI) India is losing out to the West as more and more Information Technology engineers and scientists leave the country to take up jobs abroad, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal today said.

The educational institutions, government and the industry would need to come up with a strategy if the exodus is to be stopped for the progress of the country, Mr Sibal said when a delegation of young scientists met him here.

The 26-member delegation met the Minister after they returned from Germany to attend the 56th Lindau meeting of Nobel laureates where award-winning scientists interact with young science students.

Mr Sibal also lamented the huge shortfall in the number of personnel involved in research and development in India. Only by providing access to more people to higher education that this gap can be reduced, he added.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said after meeting with the Scientific Advisory Council to the government that he would convene a conference of Chief Ministers for giving a boost to science teaching and research in the country.

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