PRIME MINISTER FLAGS OFF VIGYAN RAIL
The Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee flagged off Vigyan Rail—Scientific Exhibition
on Wheels at a function at Sadarjung Railway Station here today.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vajpayee said that he was happy
to note that the Vigyan Rail would help spread awareness about
India’s progress in various fields of science and technology and
help inculcate scientific temper among masses to bring them to
the national mainstream. Reaching the masses through the network
of Railways was the best way as the Indian Railways have played
an important role in the social and economic development of the
nation for over one and a half century, he added. The Prime Minister
exuded confidence that the Vigyan Rail would prove to be a landmark
in the history of science and technology communication in the
country as also in the world. He gave an overview of the strides
made by science and technology since Independence especially during
the last five years of his government. The Prime Minister was
happy to note that the yearlong journey of the Vigyan Rail would
be a tribute to the year 2004, made the ‘year of Scientific Awareness
in India’.
The Union Minister
of Railways Shri Nitish Kumar, in his welcome address, said that
the Vigyan Rail would inspire and enthuse people especially the
youths by creating public awareness of science and technology
and fulfill the Prime Minister’s desire to make India a fully
developed nation by 2020. In this connection, Shri Nitish Kumar
referred to the Exhibition Train, which crisscrossed the country
showcasing the strides made by Indian Railways during the 150
glorious years of its service to the nation. He also referred
to the Technology Mission on Rail Safety, announced by the Prime
Minister on the Independence Day 2003 in collaboration with the
IIT Kanpur and the Department of Science and Technology for improving
rail safety and Special Railway
Safety Fund and National Rail Vikas Yojana, as non-budgetary initiatives
to strengthen and augment rail infrastructure to meet the challenges
of globalization. He complimented his counterpart in the Ministries
of Human Resource Development, Science and Technology and Ocean
Development Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi for conceiving the project
of Vigyan Rail and hoped it would achieve its intended objective
to spread the awareness of science and technology and inculcation
of scientific temper in the country.
The Union Minister
of Human Resource Development, Science, Technology and Ocean Development
Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, in his introductory remarks, said that
the Railways, a product of science and technology, would run the
Vigyan Rail across the country showcasing the scientific achievements
of India since Independence. Science and technology today left
no field untouched resulting in all-round strides made by India
in space, atomic energy, power, industry, agriculture, medicine
and so on. He said only through the application of science and
technology we could find solution to various problems concerning
socio economic development and security. Dr. Joshi also highlighted
the onerous role played by Indian Railways in all-round progress
of the nation.
The Vigyan Rail
will crisscross all over the country in a yearlong time from today.
It would stop at 56 destinations wherein the train would exhibit
for two to five days or even more depending upon the demands of
the people. It is an initiative to spread scientific temper in
the country and is a joint venture between Vigyan Prasar, Department
of Science and Technology and Ministry of Railways in collaboration
with Scientific Departments and Ministries of the Government of
India under the guidance of the Human Resource Development, Science
and Technology and Ocean Development Minister Dr. Murli Manohar
Joshi. The function was presided over by the Union Minister for
Railways Shri Nitish Kumar.
The Minister of State
for Science and Technology Shri Bachi Singh Rawat, the Minister
of State for Railways Shri Basanagouda R. Patil, the Lt. Governor
of Delhi Shri Vijay Kapoor and Chairman Vigyan Prasar Shri M.V.
Kamath, were present, among others, on the occasion.
