The Hindu Business Line : `S&T not attracting enough talent'

With sectors offering better salaries able to attract talent in the current market-driven economy, science and technology (S&T) is not able to compete effectively in India, despite having a large pool of manpower.

If this trend continues concerns are that S&T sector may become weak and devoid of talent. Stating this, the new Secretary, Union Department of Science and Technology (DST), Dr T. Ramasami, argued in favour of creating assured opportunities for talented youth for a career with science.

In the next five years there would be a demand for at least 1,000 jobs in research and development (R&D) sector.

Current plans of India towards expansion, inclusion and excellence would demand that career opportunities are expanded to the S&T sector as well, he said while delivering the Prof. Y. Nayudamma Memorial Lecture organised by the Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences here today.

At present, about 6,500 students in India graduate annually with doctoral degrees. Estimates reveal that 2,000 of them need to seek careers outside S&T. For an inclusive growth of the country in sectors where excellence was critical, expansion of career opportunities was essential. The S&T departments need to champion for such an initiative by gaining public policy support for S&T, Prof. Ramasami said.

The current S&T ecology does not seem to provide either physical income with career opportunities matching other service sectors or psychic income derived from uninhibited pursuits of passion with science, the former Director of the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai said.

The S&T may need to be de-bureaucratised to feasible levels. There may be a need for innovating and other mechanisms to provide flexible pay and perks for S&T groups. The help of private sector is also required for enabling public institutions retain talent in S&T streams.

Prof Ramasami also suggested the setting up of a Foundation, under one of the S&T departments to increase the reach of technologies to benefit villages in the country.

The AP Akademi of Sciences also presented the annual Nayudamma Memorial Gold Medal to Dr G. Thyagarajan, Former Director of CLRI. It honoured Padma awardees for 2006, Dr Harsh K. Gupta, former Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, and Dr Seyed E. Hasnain, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad.

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