JOIN USRegional Science Centre to come up in the city
A Regional Science Centre (RSC) has been sanctioned for Mysore, and will come up at an estimated cost of Rs 14.5 crore. He said that one such centre was already operational in Dharwad, with the second centre at Pilikula set to be inaugurated next month.
He said that the centres were being constructed with 50 per cent funds from the Centre and 50 per cent from the State government, and is being established by the National Council of Science Museums.
He was speaking at the 10th Kannada Science Convention organised by Swadeshi Vijnana Andolana and University of Mysore.
“Sub regional Science Centres will be constructed by the State government in all districts in coming days. Such centres will come up 13 districts, including Bidar, Shimoga and Tumkur in the first phase and subsequently in other districts,” he said.
Following the recommendations made by eminent scientist C N R Rao led Vision Group for Science and Technology, he said that basic facilities in the laboratories of 57 degree colleges of the State have been upgraded.
He said that the State government was taking measures to inculcate interest in basic sciences especially among school going children. “Sound knowledge in basic sciences are very essential and contributes immensely in research and development activities,” he said.
Superstition
Aiming his criticism at some sections of media for prorogating superstition and blind beliefs, he said that State government was also trying to abolish such practices among the people.
“When I took up residence in Bangalore, after I was made a minister, several media organisations warned that the house I was staying in was haunted by ghosts and evil spirits. They beamed shows claiming that misfortune would befall me, if I continued to reside there. Since, I do not believe in superstition, I continued to live there, and haven’t seen any ghosts. It is sad to know that people still believe in superstitions, despite living in the 21st century. While uneducated people are easily fooled into such beliefs, it is shocking to see that people who have been educated in scientific disciplines too are superstitious,” he said.
Revenue Minster V Sreenivas Prasad said that giving primary education for children in local languages was essential for the development of the language. “Even though Supreme Court has ruled against such proposal, the Central government should make amendments to the constitution, such that the local vernacular is the medium of instruction in all States,” he said.
Former vice-chancellor of University of Horticultural Sciences, Shankar B Dandin, editor of Vaidyloka, Vasundara Bhupathi were awarded the Visvesvaraya Vijnana Puraskara. Musician R Visweshwaran was awarded the Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Vijnana Puraskara.