PM Modi asks scientists to put end to silo approach

New Delhi, Aug 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked the country's scientists to put an end to the "silo approach" and stress on innovations in areas like agriculture, solar energy and cleaning of the river Ganga.

Describing solar energy as the ultimate solution to India's energy problems, he called upon Indian scientists to work towards developing more efficient equipment which could revolutionise the entire sector.

He asked them to come up with ideas and concepts for global leadership, in the context of the upcoming COP-21 climate conference in Paris. Five scientists heading different departments -- Departments of Atomic Energy, Space, Science and Technology, Biotechnology -- Ministry of Earth Science and Director General of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) met Modi and made a detailed presentation before him.

Heads of other institutions like India Meteorological Department (IMD), scientists from DAE's Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and other such institutions were also present for the meeting, apart from Science and Technology minister Harsh Vardhan and his deputy YC Chowdary and R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to the prime minister.

In the interaction which lasted for over two-and-a-half hours, Modi called upon the scientific community to work towards solving the problems faced by India, including those in the emerging critical areas of energy and water.

"Indian science seemed to be constrained by a silo- approach, which should be ended through greater coordination, and establishing a multi-disciplinary environment for research," a government statement said, quoting the prime minister.

Noting that while science is universal, technology must be local, Modi stressed on innovations in the agriculture sector in order to reduce the wastage of agricultural produce, and eliminate entirely, India's import of agricultural products.

Describing the task of cleaning up the rivers, including the Ganga, as a "scientific project," he urged the scientists to come up with innovative solutions to achieve this goal.

In the area of healthcare, he said India must become self- reliant in manufacturing medical equipment and work on the challenges like mal-nourishment and anemia in tribal areas.

PTI