1,100 students embark on Vigyan Manthan Yatra

Bhopal, Jan 28 (UNI) As many as 1,100 students from Madhya Pradesh embarked on a study tour from here by a special train this morning under the guidance of over 100 teachers.

Students would visit various reputed institutions in Pune, Banglore and Kanyakumari to observe science research development works besides meeting eminent scientists.

The study tour -- claimed to be largest study tour of India so far -- has been organised by Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (MPCST) under the Excellence Mission. The students would return on February 6, an official release said here today.

Education Minister Laxaman Singh Gaud had hosted dinner for these students at the Narmada Club here last night. He held a dialogue with them and answered their queries. MPCST Director General Mahesh Sharma was also present on the occasion.

Mr Gaud exhorted students to make maximum out of the study tour to become leading scientists. He termed the tour as a laudable initiative to acquaint the students with the latest in science.

He said the government was marching ahead on the path of development under the leadership of the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Novel initiatives had been taken to improve education and Madhya Pradesh would become a fully-educated state soon. He advised students to take maximum benefit of the career guidance camps organised in schools and colleges for them.

Dr Sharma described the study tour as historic claiming that not only India but in the world such a large study tour had never been organised. It aimed to provide exposure to science students. There is a plan to take meritorious students to other countries also.

Students would visit National Chemical Laboratory, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Bhartiya Agro Industries Foundation and ETC Research Laboratory in Pune. They would also meet eminent scientists Professor Jayant Narlikar and Dr Vijay Bhatkar there.

In Banglore, students would visit National Centre for Biological Sciences, Centre for Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, ISRO, Visvesaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Indian Institute of Science and Hindustan Aeronautics. There they would meet eminent scientists Dr G Madhavan Nair, Prof C N R Rao, Prof P Balram, Prof K I Vasu and Dr Jagdev Singh.

In Kanyakumari, the students would visit Vivekanand Kendra-Natural Resources Development Project. They would see various spiritual and social activities being carried out by the Kendra and meet Mr G Vasudev there, the release added.

UNI PS 1807