Sibal stresses need for low-end technology for masses

Chandigarh, July 16 (UNI) Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal today stressed the need for development of low-end technology for the benefit of the poor masses.

The Minister, while addressing the inaugural session of the Fourth International Conference on Information Science, Technology and Management organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, said we need technology to diagnose diseases, for making sea water potable and to make medicines and solutions affordable for the masses. The government will soon inaugurate a plant near Chennai to make sea water potable, he added.

Mr Sibal said the entire animation work of Hollywood is done in Bangalore and soon India is going to be a manufacturing hub due to enormous availability of high quality human resources.

He said only five billion dollars are spent on research and development (R&D) work in India, which is even less than what pharma giant Pfizer spends on R&D.

He said that a partnership among industries, states, universities and R&D cetres is the need of the hour to improve the quality of R&D in the country.

Mr Sibal stressed the need for expansion of education system without compromising on excellence.

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