PRESIDENT KALAM
GIVES AWAY DADABHAI NAOROJI AWARD TO
DR. MASHELKAR
President Dr. A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam gave away the Dadabhai Naoroji Memorial Award for
2002, to Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Director General of Council of Scientific
& Industrial Research (CSIR) at a function here today. Dr.
Mashelkar was chosen for the Award for advancing the interests
of the country in the field of science and technology. The Award
comprises one lakh rupees in cash and a silver plaque.
President Kalam
commended Dr. Mashelkar for his contribution in science and technology
especially some of his achievements in CSIR in a time bound programme.
He called for another vision to economically lift the 300 and
odd million people living below the poverty line in the country.
This can be achieved through education and health care along with
food security. Critical technologies, competitiveness and maximization
of output are essential for this, he said.
Dr. Mashelkar
receiving the Award said igniting the young mind will go a long
way in the advancement of science and technology. He urged the
corporate world to help ignite the brilliant minds.
Later, in an
informal chat with scientists and newsmen, Dr. Kalam when asked
for his reaction to the Columbia disaster, said that such things
should not deter us in pursuing our goals in frontier science.
