The country’s vision-2020 is focused on developing India as a nation whereas the vision-2035 for the nation will focus on developing the quality of life of each Indian, said the executive director of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), Dr Prabhat Ranjan here on Wednesday. He was speaking as a special guest at a programme held to mark the occasion of National Technology Day on the Vigyan Dham premises of the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) organised by the council with the help of TIFAC, Department of Science and Technology and the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI).
Delivering a lecture on the topic of vision 2035 for science and technology for the common masses, Ranjan, who also headed the preparation of the vision-2035 for India, said that the said vision is dedicated to ex president and noted scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. He informed that it focuses on the future technological needs for the development of India. He said, “It tells about where we stand and where we want to be in future. Vision 2020 focuses on developing India as a country and vision 2035 focuses on developing quality of life of every Indian. Technology in the service of India and ensuring security by enhancing the prosperity and strengthening the identity of every Indian is what the main focus of vision 2035 is about. In these present times, technological developments are taking place at a pace faster than expected even as technological aspects become obsolete at a frequency swifter than expected,” said Ranjan. The TIFAC executive director further said that in addition to India’s strength in diversity, the traditional knowledge of the nation and geographical advantages are the nation’s major strengths in the sphere of science and technology. However, some constraints may result from the present scenario wherein the nation is among the followers in the technological sphere and not a leader in technology, he added. Ranjan also expressed his views on the prospects from the State’s perspective stating that value addition of raw material can be a good productive achievement in Uttarakhand.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, former vice chancellor of Garhwal University, Professor AN Purohit shared his views on aspects including value addition. Mountain-specific technologies and developments are vital requirements for facilitating the welfare of people in mountainous rural areas of the State, he added. Speaking on the occasion, UCOST director general Rajendra Dobhal referred to various aspects including the vision 2035 which was released by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Emphasis also needs to be laid on intellectual property right protection and on ensuring the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the land, he said.
Members of the scientific fraternity and students from various educational institutes were also among those present on the occasion.