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Friday, May 10, 2013

Researchers & Academicians of Sikkim call on CM with blueprint for scientific and research management

GANGTOK, 09 May: A group of local PhD degree holders, under the aegis of “Researchers and Academicians of Sikkim”, called on Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at Samman Bhawan yesterday, representing the aspirations of young academicians of Sikkim and seeking the creation of a Directorate for Scientific and Research Management, establishment of a State Government funded research institute, and formulation of rules for the recruitment and promotion to the Group ‘A’ Gazetted posts (Scientific and Technical) - Sikkim Scientific and Technical Service (SSTS).
A press release issued by Dr. Shiva Kumar Sharma, Chief Co-ordinator, Researchers and Academicians of Sikkim, informs that the delegation comprised of him, Dr. Tika Prasad Sharma, Dr. Bharat Pradhan, Dr. Arun Rai, Dr. Prakash Sharma and five other researchers, all of whom are from Sikkim.
The release states that several Central Government funded institutions such as Sikkim University, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, National Research Centre for Orchid, Botanical Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, GB Pant Himalayan Institute, Spices Board, Meteorological Department etc. have been established in Sikkim, but none have recruited academicians and scientists from Sikkim.
“These institutions, except one or two, have not recruited Sikkimese candidates even for Group C and D grade employees. All Indian sates have their own research institutions in addition to the centrally funded institutions. Sikkim has no research institutions to provide platform and placement for highly-skilled human resources, such as research doctorates, professional doctorates and other research degree holders of Sikkim origin. We people always dream of major scientific discoveries and inventions to cover the daily news headlines! Sikkim can achieve such dream partly by establishing the Sikkim Himalayan Research Institute for Biological Sciences (SHRIBS),” Dr. Shiva Kumar Sharma states in the press release. He adds that a draft of the proposal was also included in the memorandum submitted to the CM yesterday.
He goes on to add that scientific research differs from other forms of works and services as it relies on the application of scientific methods, a harnessing of curiosity and makes practical applications possible. “Highly-skilled human resources such as, research doctorates, professional doctorates and other research degree holders are essential for the development, flow of knowledge and innovations in science and technological applications. But, after achieving the highest degree on regular basis, doctorates and researchers are not getting placement in the State to explore and harness their hidden talents and potentials. Injustice has been done to those doctorates and researchers who have obtained the degrees on regular basis. Increasing the employment of highly-skilled human resources in science and technological applications should be a part of the government’s initiatives to strengthen innovations,” he underlines.
The situation, the group believes, can be redressed with the formulation of rules for the recruitment and promotion to the Group ‘A’ Gazetted posts (Scientific and Technical)- Sikkim Scientific and Technical Service (SSTS). Such an initiative is urgently required to uphold scientific research and innovative activities in the state, he adds.
Similarly, the creation of a Directorate for Scientific and Research Management was also of “paramount importance” for a state like Sikkim because Sikkim is rich in terms of natural resources and geo-diversity “and all the policies and planning of the state depend on these resources and geographical features”. Unfortunately, the state lacks a strong organization to formulate policies and evolve strategies based on factual data (technical), knowledge and scientific reports, the group highlights.
To drive home the point, the release points out that nearly all departments of the State government have data recorded for 30-40 years “but these are not being utilized for scientific analyses and policy-framing purposes”. A separate Directorate for Scientific and Research Management will make sense of this data and help formulate informed policies and strategies for development, the release explains.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling shared his views on intellectual freedom, role of intellectuals in a society and towards providing leadership to Sikkim, the release informs.
Since the state government always depends on professionals from outside Sikkim for consultancy services and the like, the CM suggested that the group develop expertise in the areas of consultancy and developing planning and policies. The Chief Minister also shared his dream of making Sikkim “a hub of knowledge in India” and assured to look into the matters placed with him seriously to fulfill the demands. 
“We expect that investment in research, education, development and skills to constitute a key policy area for Sikkim as these are elements essential to inclusive growths, to the development of a knowledge-based economy and to achieve the dream of self-reliant statehood,” the release concludes.

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