Technological progress will not wait for those who lag behind, says UCOST DG

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) director general Durgesh Pant said that not keeping pace with technological developments will be to the detriment of society. Addressing The Pioneer Dialogue held in association with UCOST, he said, “We are living in a time when we are trying to mechanise humans and humanise machines. One cannot afford to lag behind technological progress as then the gap will become harder to bridge. It is high time we incorporate aspects of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) not only in government works but in all other sectors too,” he said.

Speaking about the Science City project, he said that the nation’s fifth Science City coming up in Dehradun is a Rs 200 crore project with the government having approved Rs 172 crore for it. Stating that science is about observation, experience and hands-on work, he said that the Science City project and other works being undertaken in the sphere of science, technology and innovation here make Uttarakhand probably the first State focusing on such a science-based ecosystem. “Only a few States have an STIP and Uttarakhand is one of them. The policy focuses on departments undertaking research, necessary effort and then undertaking their works in a scientifically enabled manner which will benefit the State and its people,” he said.

Pant said that the policy document is the basis of ensuring sustainable development based on science, technology and innovation which will reach out to multitudes. He said that the fact that a journalistic discourse is taking place on this subject shows that the efforts being undertaken are in the right direction.

The UCOST DG also informed the gathering about the council’s efforts to enhance science, technology and innovation especially among the youngsters across the State with a focus on rural and remote mountainous areas.