Omar underlines youth power to address problems

Reiterates need to de-linking education from politics.

SRINAGAR: Underlining youth power as the most significant resource to deal with the challenges confronting mankind, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah emphasized the need for channelizing this force in the right direction to effectively address 21st century concerns like poverty, diseases, environmental degradation, energy crisis, disasters, climate change, etc.
“The educational relation of youth with science and technology is all the more important to address problems and find out solutions to these”, he said stressing on inculcating deep interest in youth in the scientific and technological spheres of modern learning.
Inaugurating 5-day camp on “Innovation of Science Pursuit for Inspire Research (INSPIRE)” organized by the Kashmir University in collaboration with Union Science and Technology Ministry here, Omar Abdullah said that despite tremendous advancement in the field of science and technology its optimal benefits have not transferred to the masses especially in this part of the world.
“We understand that the promotion of science and technology is possible only when the youth are attracted to this field. It is important for tackling and addressing various challenges and concerns”, he added and said that most of the services and benefits mankind presently enjoys are outcome of the scientific research carried out all over the world.
Omar Abdullah said that INSPIRE is an innovative programme for attraction of talent to science. He expressed hope that the basic objective of INSPIRE to communicate to youth the excitements of creative pursuit of science is realized through such camps and the required critical human resource pool is build for strengthening and expanding science and technology for research and development.
The Chief Minister said that the youth in Jammu and Kashmir are second to none in talent and their grooming in scientific temperament is need of the hour so that they are able to address the specific challenges, the State is confronted with in various fields.
Omar Abdullah asked the University management to create understanding with Indian Institute of Integrative Medicines (IIIM) at Srinagar and Jammu for providing opportunity to the concerned research scholars in carrying forward their R&D pursuits in IIIM institutions. He said during his recent visit to these institutions and interacting with the inmate scientists there, he has found greater opportunity of scientific research and knowledge for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. “You should develop liaison with this institution and help students to undertake research projects for which government would extend you all help”, he told management of University of Kashmir.
Wishing success to the INSPIRE camp Omar Abdullah hoped that the camp would prove an effective tool to develop interest in youth in scientific and technological initiatives.
The Chief Minister said that his Government has focused on consolidation in the education sector to provide up to the mark science laboratories and faculty to the students in educational institutions so that they are able to receive proper and quality education.
Omar Abdullah said that in order to create conducive educational atmosphere in schools and colleges to make them centres of excellence, de-linking education from politics is a must. “I am time and again reiterating this need”, he said asserting that every one of us has to contribute positively in making education and health sectors conflict neutral and apolitical and provide peaceful and cool atmosphere to the students to pursue their academic and study goals.
To attract the youth of Kashmir to study science, University of Kashmir in collaboration with the Union Department of Science and Technology decided to organize INSPIRE camps for the students. The first such camp was organized in July 2011 in which 300 students of 10+2 level were provided an opportunity to interact with reputed scientists of the country and know about various success stories regarding scientific pursuits.
Minister of State for Higher Education, Manohar Lal and Vice Chancellor Kashmir University, Talat Ahmad also spoke on the occasion.
The programme targets students of various age groups ranging from 10 to 32 years. A striking feature of the programme is that it does not believe in conducting competitive exams for identification of talent at any level. Instead, it believes in and realize on the efficacy of the existing education structure for identification of talent.
The Department of Science and Technology is currently implementing the INSPIRE under three segments namely Scheme for Early Attraction for Talent (SEATS), Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) and Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC).
The 2nd INSPIRE camp is being conducted during 24th – 28th February, 2012 and the 3rd one is scheduled in September 2012. (KMW NEWS)