State Science and Technology Councils (SSTC)

Q:Review of its State Science and Technology Councils (SSTC) Programme by the government of India is a step forward in decentralization of the agenda of science and democratization of access to science and its methods, which was long overdue. Comment.(250 words)? 

As a developing country, India faces many challenges. The systematic study of such problems and their solutions will lead not only to better development outcomes, but also new science, enterprises and jobs. 

So the government of indian with the help of  department of science and technology establish State science and technology councils for systematic study of various Challanges 

Role SSTC:

1)The SSTCs were formed to spearhead the use of science and technology (S&T) for regional problems and to foster “scientific temper” within states.

2)To increase the Science & Technology infrastructure for meeting the challenging demands in basic research, technological development and scientific services.

3) To identify the areas where Science & Technology intervention could significantly improve the existing socio-economic conditions.

4) To identify areas of long term development of the State by ensuring application of science and technology developed so far.
• Pilot scale demonstration projects.
• Replication of success models and undertaking pilot scale demonstrations projects.

• Develop appropriate mechanisms for reducing the time lag between an invention and its commercialization.

•5)To supplement the efforts of the State Government in implementing various projects whenever and wherever called for.

6)To popularize technologies and initiate scientific attitude and temperament amongst the people of the State through awareness and training programmes.

7)To facilitate the scientists and entrepreneurs in promoting technology transfers, establishing a strong relationship among the academics, research institutes and industry, guidance for developing entrepreneurship.

Recently the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Government of India has engaged in a review of its State Science and Technology Councils (SSTC) Programme.

Government initiatives :revwing 

1)The DST should disburse about Rs 2,000-2,500 crore directly to SSTCs with precise guidelines on problem area selection, publicly available reports as research outcomes, identification of regional institutions, strengthening of universities, and working with regional agencies.

2) The DST should be a clearing house for data from central agencies such as the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA).

3)The SSTC should become the nodal center for research in and for state agencies and administrative units such as forests lands, watersheds, districts or cities. 

4)This will enable sectoral research, funds, logistical support and access to state-level data. There should be innovative funding mechanisms, for example, providing Rs 10 per capita or Rs 1 crore per district per year as research funding for work on regional problems. 

5)This will enable rolling out a citizen’s right to science, for a community to seek scientific analysis of the problems it faces. For example, Nasik city may choose to develop a public transport plan, or a village may want a study of its disappearing groundwater and advice on installing an RO plant.

6)The SSTC should work with the state higher education department to evolve curricula and research frameworks for the state’s development requirements and provide academic space for SSTC projects, and evolve a network of regional institutions to work with district-level agencies

7)There should be better alignment of research and development with existing programmes at the national and state level. For example, the SSTC may offer a programme for institutions or enterprises to prepare air quality action plans for cities as required by the National Clean Air Programme or district irrigation plans as a part of the national PMKSY programme.

8)anchor research on regional problems, develop suitable curricula and mentor and collaborate with regional institutions.

9)Finally, there should be a Model State Science and Technology Council Act to ensure the above agenda to prevent capture by venerable scientists or elite institutions, and to allow people and their representatives to initiate studies on problems which bother them.

Conclusion :This will bring real science closer to schools and colleges and allow the community to participate in its own development. This approach is certainly in line with the spirit of science, and certainly what was intended by Bharat Ratna C Subramaniam, who initiated the SSTC programme and was a key figure in both the Green Revolution and the White revolution