Kalam calls for creation of Indian Science Service

New Delhi, Oct 26 (UNI) Creation of an Indian Science Service with an impressive growth graph and attractive salaries would draw more and more students into the neglected science stream and adopt science as a career, President APJ Abdul Kalam today said.

It is essential for the nation to assure a career for those who wish to pursue science as a mission, Dr Kalam said while presenting the Shri Om Prakash Bhasin Awards for Science and Technology for 2004 and 2005.

''We should work for the creation of a science cadre, with clear mission goals, well defined growth path and attractive salaries,'' he said while outlining his plan.

According to Dr Kalam, there should be a minimum annual intake of about 400 M.Sc and 200 Ph.Ds with assured career growth in the organisations such as CSIR, DST, Department of Earth Sciences, Department of Bio Technology, Department of Agriculture, ISRO, DRDO, Atomic Energy, and the universities.

The academies of sciences and the scientific advisory committee to the Union Cabinet should discuss the details of the plan and come out with a recommendation to the government, he added.

Starting a number of Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research is definitely a good effort towards attracting youth towards science as a career, he said in a talk titled 'Attracting Youth to Science'.

The awards were presented to Dr Seyed E Hasnain, Dr J Gowrishankar, Dr Prem Chand Pandey, Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala and Dr Pradeep Seth for their contribution to outstanding scientific leadership in the areas of agriculture and allied Sciences, bio-technology, electronics and Information Technology and engineering including energy and aerospace.

On India's energy security, the President said if India has to go for nuclear power generation in big way, it has to use thorium based reactor. ''Thorium, a non-fissile material, is available in abundant in our country. Intensive research is essential for converting thorium for maximising its utilisation and generating electric power through thorium based reactors,'' he said.

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