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HYDERABAD, July 6

THE Principal Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister, Dr R. Chidambaram, has called for a `coherent synergy' of efforts in science and technology with human resources development, policy support and industry-academia participation for making the country a developed nation.

Delivering a lecture on `Nuclear Energy and National Strength' at the first technical session on `Aerospace luminary lecture series' here on Saturday, Dr Chidambaram spoke in detail about the country's three-state nuclear power programme, on attaining credible minimum nuclear deterrence, spin-offs in agriculture, medicine and industry.

The lecture series is being organised by the Hyderabad Chapter of Aeronautical Society of India, marking the centenary of aviation.

"India should go for international cooperation in science and technology, but it should be on equal partner basis," he said.

"This (cooperation) should be on total balance sheet and not on item-to-item. Give on some and take on some," he said and asked the country to participate in international mega science projects.

"The purpose of any technological development is to create national wealth and improve the quality of life, particularly in rural areas," Dr Chidambaram said.

"We cannot forget that two-thirds of Indians still live in rural areas. India can be called a developed nation when the quality of life in rural India is made comparable to qualify of life in the non-urban areas of the developed countries," he said.

"National security doesn't just mean physical security. It also includes food security, energy security and health security," he pointed out.

Stating that selection of critical technology, particularly in food technologies, is important, he said 3 per cent of Americans produced food for their countrymen. "But then, why should 66 per cent of Indians involve themselves to produce food," he said.

"We must realise that national development and national security are two sides of the same coin. Unless the country is peaceful, is not involved in conflict, it can develop to the maximum extent," he felt.

"If you increase electricity production in the country, everything else begins to improve. Apart from increased consumption in urban areas, rural areas will get better drinking water, better primary healthcare and sewerage facilities, resulting in an overall positive impact on all aspects of human development, including life expectancy," he said.

Dr Chidambaram, one of the architects of Indian atomic energy programme, said technology foresight should be distinguished from technological forecasting, which attempts prediction of future technology developments, without worrying about the impact of these developments on the economy, society or environment.

"Technology foresight is forecasting plus assessment," he said. While stating that nuclear energy has a variety of applications ranging from electricity to medicine and agriculture, Dr Chidambaram said it held good promise for the long-term energy needs of the country.

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