Governing body of State Council of Science & Technology reconstituted

GANGTOK, 04 Nov: The governing body of the Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology has been reconstituted by the State government. The Council is chaired by the Chief Minister with the Minister, Science & Technology as vice chairman. There are 22 other members included in the council.
The Council has also been given a vast array of responsibilities, the primary being identifying areas where science and technology can be utilized for the socio economic advancement of the state. In particular this is to be aimed at tackling problems afflicting the backward and under-privileged sections. The larger objective of the use of science and technology would be poverty alleviation and reduction of regional imbalances.
The council will advise on ways to achieve the Socio-Economic objectives in this regard in various fields including agriculture, animal husbandry, horticulture, health etc and also in infrastructure development. Priority areas for long term development of the state will be chalked out ensuring proper application of science and technology. In fact this is also to be utilized in resolving problems encountered in plan implementation through the assignment of pilot projects.
An important function of the Council is the promotion of technologies and initiating scientific attitude and temperament amongst the people of the state. In addition this is also to supplement the achievement of the on-going technical projects/efforts of the State Government.
There will be registration of voluntary agencies, education research and development institutions, non-governmental organization and individuals involved in work related to
Science & Technology for the purpose of development of the state. A fund will be maintained into which shall be credited all funds provided to the Council by the Central Government or the State Government.
The council will be supported by the department of Science and Technology especially in the design, development and demonstration of relevant specific projects, surveys etc.
The council includes the Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner and Secretaries Finance, Food Security, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Agriculture, Irrigation, Forests, PHE, RMDD, Health. Besides there are also representatives of the central agencies including Planning Commission, department of Space, Department of Science and Technology, Bio Technology, AICTE, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Non Conventional Energy, GSI and Indian Agricultural Research Institute.