Scientists to lead delegations abroad, not ministers: Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, June 8: All scientific delegations to foreign countries will now be led by eminent scientists and not by ministers, the Centre said on Saturday.

"We have taken a major decision may be for the first time in the last 60 years that a minister will not go to any of the conferences to the foreign countries as a head of the delegation", Minister of State for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, (Independent Charge), Jitendra Singh said.

"By this, scientists will get more opportunities and wider opportunities to interact with scientific fraternity with country and abroad. This is actually going to be useful for the country," Singh said.

Replying to a question in this regard, the minister said: "Our view in the Science and Technology is that all the conferences which are held in the country and abroad should have due participation by the scientists and technicians rather than political office bearers".

"In this month, there are two international conferences scheduled in Santiago and Boston. It was told to me that a minister will lead the delegation", Singh said, adding "I told them (officials) please put an end to this practice. We will select those scientists who will have original presentation (to lead the delegation).

"We will start this practice. On July 25, a delegation will go to (an the international science conference) under eminent scientist Dr Ragavan (as head of the delegation)", he added.

Singh, who retired as a professor of diabetology & endocrinology, a consultant and clinical practitioner at Government Medical Hospital in Jammu, before entering politics, said, "There they would get preference. As far as I am concerned, I will not be volunteering to lead a scientific delegation. That is part of self-discipline."

"We intend to use science for social transformation of this country. We want to make it society-friendly and take it closer to involvement of the society at large", he added.

Singh, who arrived as a minister, was given a rousing reception by the state BJP leadership and party workers here, and was taken in a mega car rally to the Kachi Chawani-based state headquarters.

PTI