Indigenous technology to boost PM's Make in India campaign

While the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, greets the nation today on National Technology Day, the Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, urges India's scientific community to celebrate the spirit of "Make in India" by conceptualising processes and products that cover everything from space conquest to the building blocks of life to mundane construction material.

"Greetings to my fellow Indians on the occasion of National Technology Day. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan," said Modi, adding "Technology has the power to transform the lives of the people.

From mitigating poverty, simplifying processes, ending corruption, to providing better services to the people, the vitality of technology is everywhere."

In a separate event, Dr Harsh Vardhan, addressed reporters after a visit to Advanced Material and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), which is part of the Centre of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) family.

There he said, "We have made revolutionary advances in radiation shielding material to protect humans from the hazards of space radiation during missions in outer space. These conform to NASA specifications."

"Here at the AMPRI, I see that spirit already embedded. My scientist colleagues are developing advanced radiation shielding which is needed for astronauts while not forgetting the environmental soundness of flyash bricks and cement," he remarked on a visit to Bhopal.

"Wherever I go in India, I see scientists in CSIR, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences and even private scientific foundations engaged in inventing and reinventing things. The Prime Minister's call for "Make in India" has indeed given our scientific creativity a boost," he said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan further added that he has big plans for AMPRI. "We have to achieve global status and establish a niche in the areas of Materials and Processes.

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