Under-utilisation of funds for S

Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, Jan 5 (UNI) Taking a serious view of under-utilisation of resources for scientific research, President A P J Abdul Kalam today lamented that more than 20 per cent of the funds allocated for Science and Technology in Budget 2005-06 remained unutilised.

''Last night, when I studied the utilisation of budget allotment for Science and Technology, I found that more than 20 per cent of funds remained unutilised in 2005-06,'' Dr Kalam said in his address after presenting awards to 13 young scientists at the Indian Science Congress here.

He welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's January 3 announcement of progressively increasing the allocation for Science and Technology from less than one per cent of the GDP to two per cent in the next five years.

''Every year, when I come to Science Congress, there has been an assurance that the S&T budget will be increased. This year the Prime Minister has announced that the allocation on Science&Technology will be progressively increased.

''The commitment from the Prime Minister is good news for science and technology, no doubt about it, but what I want to say, you will not do it(applause),'' Dr Kalam said laughingly, amid applause from the audience.

The President called for a time-bound action plan to realise the government's goal of increasing the allocation of funds for Science and Technology, and also recommended 0.5% of the GDP for basic research.

He suggested constitution of a joint team consisting of members from all scientific departments of the Government and other departments and agencies concerned to realise the goal.

''The team should work out the growth plan for research, science education programme, training programmes and laboratory establish programme in a integrated way for the five year period, keeping a 20 years science vision perspective,'' he said.

The yearly increase, he said, could be 1.2 per cent in 2007-2008, 1.4 per cent in 2008-09, 1.6 per cent in 2009-10, 1.8 per cent in 2010-2011 and two per cent in 2011-2012.

A document should come out spelling out integrated national S&T programme, including basic research, applied research and Technology demonstration.

The document should also indicate the participating departments, research institutions, academic institutions and universities along with specific milestones to be achieved in a definite time frame, he said.

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