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REAL CHALLENGE IS TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGY - DR. M. M. JOSHI
PROJECT APPROVED FOR UPGRADING COMPUTING FACILITY IN IITs
The Minister for Human Resource Development and Science and Technology Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi has said that we have to be constantly vigilant about the social consequences of technology. Social, cultural and ethical neutrality of technology is a myth perpetuated by an industrial and consumerist form of social organisation. Dr. Joshi was delivering the 31st Convocation address at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi here today. He said, technology has often led to the oppression and the manipulation of the individual and destruction of natural environment without being able to solve the problem of mass poverty, starvation and international conflict.
Dr. Joshi said, the real challenge among our technologists is not merely to accept environmental and ecological considerations but to alter the way we think and design technology. Developments in the field of solar energy, hydrogen fuel cells, bio- fertilizers, herbal cures, bio-diversity conservation, water- harvesting, are all pointers to the directions in which technology must advance. However, he said, sustainable development and sustainable consumption go together. He said, technology will continue to harm as long as the ideal of unlimited consumption remains as a measure of progress.
Dr. joshi said, it should become our bounden duty to harness the technological means available to us to convert every knowledge holder into a dynamic producer of knowledge - not merely a passive recipient of information created by others but a creator, a generator, an entrepreneur of content. This, he said, places a demand on our scientists and technologists to make technology available, accessible, affordable and controllable.
He said, there is a need to synthesise science and technology with social and economic issues because human relationships in the super-industrial societies are undergoing tremendous stress. Dr. Joshi said, future growth of knowledge hinges on the ability of science and social science to rediscover areas of convergence and combine different disciplines, different modes of enquiry, in unusual ways, to expand and enrich our minds. He said, this is not only our greatest challenge but our greatest opportunity.
Dr. Joshi announced that that the government has approved a project for upgrading the computing facilities in 5 IITs at Mumbai, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur and Chennai. This has been done keeping in view its probable contribution in the area of Information Technology and Software Development and possible networking with RECs and other engineering colleges. He called upon the IITs to provide guidance to other technical institutions in the system besides being trendsetters in the field of engineering and technology education themselves.
Earlier, welcoming the guests Director of IIT Prof. Prem Vrat sought support from Industry and alumni for creation of Chairs at the Institute. He said, 22 Chairs have been set up including two this year. He said, there is a need to constantly upgrade the infrastructure at the institute for which funds are being made available by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the industry.
Three former students of the Institute were given Distinguished Alumni Award. They are: Shri Anil Sood, Vice President, Strategy and Resource Management at the World Bank; Prof. Govind P. Agrawal, Professor of Optics at the University of Rochester and Shri Hari S. Bhartia, Co- Chairman and managing Director of Vam Organic Chemicals Ltd. In all 1129 students received their degrees including 81 Ph.Ds 16 Masters of Science(Research).
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RAILWAY MINISTER CONDOLES USHA MEHTA’S DEATH
The Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee has mourned the death of Usha Mehta, a Ganddhian philosopher and freedom fighter. In a condolence message, Ms Mamata Banerjee, recalled the late Usha Mehta’s services and said the principles she lived for should continue to inspire the people.
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FERTILIZER INDUSTRY NEED TO FACE NEW CHALLENGES : SURESH PRABHU
The Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Suresh Prabhu has said that the Fertilizer Industry has to ready itself to face challenges of the new millennium. Shri Prabhu was speaking at the National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL) 26th Annual Day Function, here yesterday. The Minister said with the opening of the Indian economy to global competition it is necessary that our fertilizer industry achieves cost reduction. Subsidies being given by the Government to fertilizer manufacturers have increased in the past years and therefore it has now become imperative to review urea retention pricing mechanism to reduce this increasing burden on exchequer, Shri Prabhu said.
The Minister added that in view of these developments the Government is ceased of the matter and is giving final touches to a long term fertilizer pricing policy which will address needs of all stake holders. The Minister said NFL has truly been a leading public sector fertilizer company with a vision the company has grown in strength and size over the past 26 years. During 1999-2000, the company produced 31.37 lakh tonnes of urea with an overall installed capacity utilisation of 111.8%. NFL registered a sale turn over of Rs. 2453 crores with post tax profit of Rs. 34.89 crores.
The Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers, Shri Ramesh Bais in his remarks said he was confident that NFL would overcome the challenges facing the fertilizer industry. Shri Bais said that he looked forward to the day when NFL’s other three units would also profit like the plant at Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh.
The Annual Day function was addressed by the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the company.