Haryana Vigyan Ratna Award and Haryana Yuva Vigyan Ratna award distribution function organized by the Department of Science and Technology at Raj Bhavan

Chandigarh, February 28: Haryana Governor Shri Bandaru Dattatraya on Monday stressed the need for quality science and technology education at school level in sync with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, which not only lead to a new global identity for the country but will also help us realize the dream of a new and modern India.

Shri Dattatraya was speaking at the Haryana Vigyan Ratna Award and Haryana Yuva Vigyan Ratna award distribution function organized by the Department of Science and Technology at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of National Science Day here. Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manohar Lal and Home, Science and Technology Minister Shri Anil Vij were also present on the occasion.

He said that better laboratories should be made available to students in all universities and colleges so that students can undertake new research works. Apart from this, the university should get patents for research at its level so that the dream of ‘Vocal for Local’ will come true and the country will become self-reliant.

The Governor presented awards to 11 scientists, out of which two women scientists were honoured with the Haryana Vigyan Ratna Award. This is the first time in the history of Haryana that two women have been conferred with this award. Outstanding scientists of Haryana Prof Neeraj Jain and Prof Mukesh Jain were honoured with Haryana Vigyan Ratna Award for 2019, while Prof Motilal Madan and Dr Sushila Mann were honoured with the Haryana Vigyan Ratna Award for the year 2020, and Dr Chetan Prakash Kaushik and Dr Elora Sen for the year 2021. They were honoured with a citation, trophy, shawl and cash amounting to Rs 4 lakh as an award.

Governor Shri Dattatraya gave away Haryana Yuva Vigya Ratna Award to Dr Pooja Devi and Dr Ram Jiwari for the year 2019, Dr Pawan Kumar and Shri Satish Khurana for the year 2020 and Dr Kalpana Nagpal for the year 2021. They were presented a citation, trophy, shawl and cash amounting to Rs one lakh as an award.

The Governor said that he is very proud to have awarded four women in the field of science in this program. To empower women in education and other fields, the Haryana government is working with a positive approach and the women of Haryana are progressing in every field. He said that our scientists have made research and inventions in various fields. Our great scientist Nobel laureate Dr CV Raman invented the Raman Effect a century ago and made a unique invention for the treatment of cancer by understanding the structure of the tumour.

Shri Dattatraya said that during Covid-19 pandemic, the scientists of India proved their mettle and merit globally by preparing vaccines to prevent infection of Covid-19. These vaccines have been to more than 90 countries of the world. This is a wonderful work done by the scientists of India, he said.

The Governor said that Haryana is an agricultural state. There is a huge potential in the state for new discoveries in the field of agriculture and allied sector. The Haryana government has made special efforts to promote science. NCR Science City is being set up at a cost of Rs 191 crore and Arya Bhatt Science Centre at Ambala at a cost of Rs 85 crore. These projects will prove a milestone in attracting students towards science.

Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manohar Lal said that science and technology has made life easier. The access to other planets is a sign of the progress of science. He said that our scientific community has done the work of changing the direction of life. Why and how small events happen in life and what will be their results generate curiosity among scientists, leading to new discoveries and interventions.

Chief Minister Shri Lal said that the knowledge of India’s culture and civilization is going to lead the world towards peace. Unlimited curiosity of science will take our country towards progress. For this, the education of science is being promoted by the government at the school and college level and scholarships are being provided to the students in many fields. He said that it is the endeavor of the government that young scientists should get awards at the state level and they move forward for the progress of the country.

Haryana Home, Science and Technology Minister Shri Anil Vij said that efforts are being made for research in physics, besides improving infrastructure through medical education. He said that the use of scientific techniques proved effective in dealing with Covid-19. The use of technology for social welfare will touch new heights.

Shri Vij said that to promote astronomy and astrophysics, a constellation has been established in the memory of Kalpana Chawla. Apart from this, to promote science from Class XI, scholarships ranging from one thousand to three thousand five hundred rupees and science competitions and science conclave are being organized at district level. Shri Vij said that solar energy should be used to meet all kinds of needs.

On this occasion, Haryana Chief Secretary Shri Sanjeev Kaushal; Additional Chief Secretary, Dr Ashok Khemka, Shri AK Singh; Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Director General, Information Public Relations, Shri Amit Kumar Agrawal; Secretary to Governor Shri Atul Dwivedi; Director, Science and Technology Shri Chandra Shekhar Khare and other senior officers were present.