To develop the interest of youth in science and technology, Haryana Government has decided to increase the number of Science Clubs being operated in Sanskriti Schools from 20 to 200 in the State.
Besides financial assistance being given to these clubs will be enhanced from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000, said Science and Technology Minister, Anil Vij, while presiding over a review meeting of the Department on Monday.
Vij also directed to enhance the amounts of Haryana Vigyan Ratna and Haryana Yuva Vigyan Ratna Awards to bring them at par with Central Government. Apart from this, new projector would be installed at the Department-run Kalpana Chawla Memorial Planetarium, Kurukshetra at a cost of about Rs 1.5 crore to Rs two crore.
With a view to develop scientific intellect among the youth, financial assistance of Rs 50,000 is provided to scientists of the state who participate in conference, seminars and workshops organised at international level. Similarly, financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh would be provided for research and development projects, said he.
The Minister said, “Apart from this, gold, silver and bronze medal winners of senior category in international-level Science Olympiad would be given Rs five lakh, Rs three lakh and Rs two lakh, respectively. Participants in this category would be given Rs one lakh. Similarly, gold, silver and bronze medal winners of junior category would be given Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs one lakh, whereas participants would be given Rs 50,000. The facility of tissue culture laboratory was being provided by the Department in Hisar for convenience of farmers. lakhs of plants would be prepared in this laboratory and supplied to the farmers, said Vij.
He also directed the officers to prepare new schemes to present science and technology as an attractive field to the students, and to organise seminars at school, college and university levels for this purpose.