Thiruvananthapuram, January 3
Noting that there was no barrier that “we cannot overcome”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India could compete with the best in the world given the country harness all the talent that exists.

“I have always believed that if we put our mind to it, we can work together as a nation and compete with the best in the world,” he said after presenting the Panambilli Govinda Menon award to former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair here today.

The achievements of Nair and his ISRO team were ample proof of the country’s talent, he said, adding: “If we can harness all the talent that exists in the country, there is no problem that we cannot tackle and no barrier that we cannot overcome.” The PM said the entire nation was proud of the achievements of the country’s scientists. It was because of their dedicated and sincere efforts of patriotism and public service that India’s space programme is now ranked among the most advanced in the world, he said.

“Our products and services, including commercial satellite launches, have found a ready market in developed countries such as Italy, Korea and Germany. In honouring Nair, we pay tribute to the work of all the engineers and scientists who have been a part of this national endeavour,” he said.

“The Chandrayan Moon Mission was a great achievement. Even though the moon mission could not be completed, we gained a lot of experience and the mission collected very valuable scientific data,” he said.

However, the PM regretted that red tape, political interference and lack of recognition of good work contributed to a regression in Indian science in some sectors. “It is unfortunately true that red tape, political interference and lack of proper recognition of good work have all contributed to a regression in Indian science in some sectors from the days of (Nobel laureate) CV Raman and other great pioneers of Indian science,” he said after inaugurating the 97th Indian Science Congress (ISC 2010).

“I invite you to explore all these issues and engage with us to liberate Indian science from the shackles of deadweight of bureaucracy and favouritism,” the PM told the scientific community.

To reverse the trend and improve standards, Manmohan Singh also urged the scientific institutions to propose mechanisms for greater autonomy, including autonomy from the government.

To convert the ‘brain drain’ of the past into a ‘brain gain’, the PM called for special efforts to encourage scientists of Indian origin working abroad to return to the homeland and work at universities and scientific institutions in the country, at least for a short period. “This will require special incentives. We need to think creatively on how this can be done so that high quality minds are attracted to teaching and research,” the PM told around 6,500 delegates from across the country and overseas, participating in the five-day premier science event. past into a ‘brain gain’, the PM called for special efforts to encourage scientists of Indian origin working abroad to return to the homeland and work at universities and scientific institutions in the country, at least for a short period.

“This will require special incentives. We need to think creatively on how this can be done so that high quality minds are attracted to teaching and research,” the PM told around 6,500 delegates from across the country and overseas, participating in the five-day premier science event.