‘Developing a nature-centric
new consciousness in production technologies and consumption patterns
is the need of the hour’ said Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, the Minister
for Human Resource Development and Science and Technology here
today, at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Delivering
a special address on the occasion, on "Unleashing India on the
Global Matrix", Dr. Joshi called for a complete shift in the strategies
on research and technology. The western industrial societies which
depend more on the use of hydrocarbons, have only contributed
to enhanced pollution levels, acid rain, greenhouse gases causing
serious damage to global environment and social systems. By employing
large scale energy and resource-intensive manufacturing methods,
we can neither achieve sustainable development nor sustainable
consumption, both essential for the very survival of the mankind.
Calling for new technological
paradigms, which operate at low temperatures and low pressures
that are less energy intensive, less polluting and cost effective,
are what we need today. "Learn from nature" should be guiding
principle for all in this 21st century said Dr. Joshi.
The continuation of the present trend of resources consumption
will only enhance the rich-poor divide, which would be catastrophic
on all counts. All nations should come together to end the present
trends of production and consumption patterns which only help
in prolonging homogenisation of the global culture based on values
of individualism and materialism. He also cautioned against the
danger of the rich-poor divide leading to knowledge-rich and knowledge-poor
groups, since knowledge is the driver and arbiter of economic
growth and social transformation, Dr. Joshi said.
Turning to the topic
of "Unleashing India on the Global Matrix" Dr. Joshi said, it
is not the question of unleashing newly, as India had a dominating
presence in the global scheme even much before colonialisation.
Today, it will be a question of revival of the same and it is
already having its major presence felt in certain sectors i.e.
IT, BT, Space, Energy and Agriculture in the global arena. At
the same time India will continue to stick to the policy of non-exploitative
scientific and production practices. It believes in a new era
of cooperation and non-competition. Human welfare is more important
to India than turning the world into an exploitative society.
He also called for a patent regime that is conducive to the developing
world and curbing exploitative tendencies.
