As manual scavenging continues unabated in many States despite being officially banned, Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday exhorted engineers to come out with technological solutions to resolve problems of waste and its disposal.
“You can give technological solutions for Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan. Even if five good scientists apply their mind on how to gather waste and dispose it, it can be possible... Today we still have people sweeping and cleaning sewers manually,” Vardhan said.
When Vardhan said this, probably he had on his mind the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census data which has revealed that 1,80,657 households are engaged in this degrading work for a livelihood in the country.
The Minister was addressing the two-day International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CATES) Convocation beginning Tuesday.
Noting that the benefits of innovation have never reached the common man because of the affordability factors, Vardhan also urged the engineers to seek solutions for the complex, but daily problems of people so that they can reap the benefits of science.
Vardhan said the ancient Indian had knowledge on metallics, architecture and various other sciences.
“The whole world used to come to India till 1856, in all our things whether it was architecture, engineering or science technology, arts, culture, commerce, economy. “In everything we were at the top position. Today, we have been facing many challenges, but our scientists and engineers in this country have brought many solutions to the problems,” he added.
Delivering his address during the Plenary Session, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government and the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet Dr. Chidambaram said that “there should be ‘Sustainability with Equity’ as we go ahead on the path of progress.” He also said that India is committed to cut down on its emissions.
The event is being hosted by Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), its Indian chapter. Delegations of more than 70 countries are expected to visit this two-day event.