Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed happiness that India was on the verge of releasing its own indigenous COVID vaccine and complimented the scientists who have made this possible.

Addressing the concluding session of the India International Science Festival from Hyderabad through virtual mode, the Vice President also lauded the dedication of scientists in making the country self-reliant in the production of PPEs and Covid-19 testing kits.

Observing that false information on the nature of the coronavirus, medication and the vaccine has caused panic and anxiety among the people, Shri Naidu said that the ‘infodemic’ also reinforces the importance of scientific temper in our lives. “It is not vaccines or drugs that can defeat the ‘infodemic’, but a rational outlook among people’, he said.

Underlining that Indian Constitution lists the development of scientific temper as one of the Fundamental Duties, he said that if the people imbibed this temper, they can apply scientific methodology to every endeavour of life and make informed decisions.

Referring to India’s impeccable background in science, Vice President emphasised that even in the field of science, India’s core philosophy has always been ‘share and care’ and ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’. Mentioning that famed scientist, Shri JC Bose never filed a single patent, the Vice President said that it is in the same spirit that India has not only become the pharmaceutical hub of the world, but has also been extensively sharing these life-saving drugs with the rest of the world.

Highlighting the need to promote science education and inculcate the scientific temper from a young age, Shri Naidu said that children have an inherent curiosity and how we channelize that curiosity was very important. “Don’t push children to give answers. Instead nudge them to ask questions!”, he appealed to the parents and educators.

Calling for an end to rote learning, he said that students should be encouraged to ‘discover’ rather than be ‘told’. He expressed happiness that there was an exclusive event on toys and games in the science festival.

Noting that December 25th is also the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya , the Vice President opined that the people must take inspiration from their lives. Wishing citizens a Merry Christmas, he said that Christmas was a festival of peace and love and that peace was as the prerequisite of progress. “We all should work for peace”, Shri Naidu said.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Shekhar C Mande, Chairman, IISF-2020 and Director General, CSIR, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology (DST), Dr.Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Dr. M Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MOES), Dr. Vijay P Bhatkar, President, Vijnana Bharati, Shri Jayant Sahastrabuddhe, National Organising Secretary, Vijnana Bharati and Dr. Ranjana Aggarwal, Chief Coordinator, IISF-2020, Director, CSIR-NISTADS and CSIR-NISCAIR were among the dignitaries who attended the virtual event.

By: DocMemory
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