Sri Krushna Chandra Patra, Hon'ble Minister, Science and Technology
emphasised on the visibility of the presence of Science and Technology Department in
the State through promotion of scientific temper, science communication,
establishment of Science Centres, science parks, thematic science museum, innovation
hubs, and organisation of science fests and conclaves. While visiting the Department
and reviewing its activities, Hon'ble Minister also suggested to give more priority on
promotion of Biotechnology, research and development.
Smt. Chithra Arumugam, Principal Secretary of the Department along with
senior officers welcomed the Hon'ble Minister to the Department. Principal Secretary
presented various schemes and programmes of the Department and organizations
under its administrative control. Hon'ble Minister was briefed the activities of Odisha
State Council on Science and Technology, Odisha Bigyan Academy, Institute of
Mathematics and Applications, Odisha Space Applications Centre and Pathani
Samanta Planetarium. Smt. Arumugam described the activities of various agencies
that include grants of financial assistance for studies, research and fellowship,
UNESCO-KALINGA Science Award, quality training for Mathematics and Science
teachers, various publications of Odisha Bigyan Academy and felicitation of State
awards etc. She also highlighted on the activities of Institute of Mathematics and
Applications as a Centre of fundamental research in mathematics. Besides, Odisha
Space Application Centre works as the apex body for space technology applications
which provides remote sensing, GIS, GPS and other application solutions to
Government Departments, PSUs and other research organisations. The Hon'ble
Minister was also apprised on the planetariums, science centres, museum in the State.
Special mention was made on new Biotechnology Policy 2024 and Biotechnology
Cell in the Department. The Department envisages to create Odisha Marine
Biotechnology and Innovation Corridor, to establish science city with world-class
state-of-the-art science museum and to transform Institute of Mathematics and
Application, the Principal Secretary said.
Hon'ble Minister Sri Patra appreciated the ongoing schemes and programmes
implemented by the Department. Suggesting to promote schemes on green energy in
coastal farming system, the Hon'ble Minister said that Department should explore
Solar Wind Hybrid System to save the environment and cost.
Sibani Mohanty, Addl. Secretary, Puja Mishra, Joint Secretary, Bidyutprava
Rout, FA-cum-Joint Secretary, P.K. Patra, Joint Secretary, S. Murmu, Joint Secretary,
Urmiprava Maharana, Deputy Secretary, Sashikant Dash, Deputy Director, Laxmi
Narayan Padhi, Senior Scientist and others attended the review meeting.
Hon'ble Minister Sri Patra visited Pathani Samanta Planetarium and planted
mango saplings in its premises. He suggested to renovate it into a world-class standard
institution with new features in galleries.