PM promises to facilitate research, cut red tape
January 03, 2015 15:06
The ease of doing research is as important as ease of doing business, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today as he promised the scientific community that he will cut red tape and pitched for greater academic freedom and autonomy to universities.
He also underscored the need for making investment in science and technology a part of corporate social responsibility and said digital connectivity must be "as much a basic right" as access to schools while calling for efforts to "revive the romance" of science in society and "rekindle" the love for it in children.
"When I speak of ease of doing business in India, I also want to pay equal attention to ease of doing research and development in India.... We need to put science, technology and innovation at the top of national priorities," Modi, whose government has made a strong push for improving business environment to attract investment, said inaugurating the 102nd Indian Science Congress.
Reaching out to scientists, who often complain of bureaucratic hurdles and funding troubles for research, he said, "We want our scientists and researchers to explore the mysteries of science and not of government procedures. We want them to consider publications not government approvals."
"Funding proposals should not take too long to clear. Meeting applications, requirements should not become more complex than research," he said.
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