Chandigarh May 8: : Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda today conferred Haryana Vigyan Ratna and Haryana Yuva Vigyan Ratna Awards 2010-11 upon four eminent scientists of the State for their outstanding contribution in the field of Science and Technology in an impressive programme organized at Haryana Niwas here today.
Addressing the scientists, technologists and students on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that Science and Technology play a major role in improving the quality of life and sustainability, which was ultimate goal of any progressive society. He said that no development could take place in the fields of industries, health, agriculture, infrastructure without the use of science and technology. Bio-technology and nanotechnology had significantly changed the whole scenario of the world, he added.
Mr. Hooda said that the Food Security was a challenge and the scientists should work on how to maximize the yield with minimum use of land and water. He said that there was a large gap between lab research to land and these should be transfer red to the field to get results. He said that Punjab and Haryana were the food bowls of the country and maximum yield had been achieved in these states. However, it was now high time, we should go for vertical growth in farming as we had achieved the maximum horizontal growth, added Mr. Hooda, who had headed the working Group of Chief Ministers on Agriculture Production and Sustainable Growth. He said that by adopting this technique, Israel had maximized its output and Haryana Government had also taken many initiatives in this regard.
Mr. Hooda called upon the students to take up scientific studies and research in a big way as their interest in studying basic science was declining. He said that State Government had implemented the policy under which science toppers from class ninth onwards were being given a monthly scholarship ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1500. Former Prime Minister Late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi envisioned that in the 21st century, the country should lead the world in the field of Information and Technology. The Union and the State Government was working in this direction. He said that the State Government had set up Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar and Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal. Many more nanotechnology and biotechnology institutes would be set up in the upcoming Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Kundli, Sonipat, he further added.
Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Science and Technology Minister Mr. Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Haryana Science and Technology Department was making efforts to motivate the students to study science subjects. He said that Science Conclaves were organized all across the State, where the best of minds from India and abroad, answer the quarries of the students and deliver lectures so as to encourage the students towards science subjects. He said our former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Azad and other noted scientists like Dr. K. Kasturirangan had already addressed such conclaves.
Those who had been awarded in the function included Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College Hospital, Sector-32, Chandigarh Dr. Harsh Mohan and Vice-Chairman, Max Healthcare, New Delhi Dr. S.K.S Marya who were conferred with Haryana Vigyan Ratna Award, which carries a cash prize of Rs. One lakh, a citation and a trophy. Haryana Yuva Vigyan Ratna Awards were presented to Dr. Gitanjali Yadav and Dr. Mukesh Jain, both Staff Scientists at National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi. The Yuva Vigyan Ratna Award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, a citation and a trophy.
Dr. Harsh Mohan is a renowned diagnostic surgical pathologist with special areas of interest in gynecologic, breast and dermatologic pathology. He is the sole author of six well know textbooks in pathology for medical and dental students running in multiple editions, which are widely read all over the India as well as in many other countries. Besides, he has published 255 scientific papers on biomedical journals (including 140 in international journals).
Dr. Sanjiv K.S. Marya has been serving the field of medicine and orthopedic surgery for 30 years. His areas of specialization include Joint Replacement Surgery and Trauma Management, and he has conducted over 10,000 such surgeries. He is considered among the pioneers of doing bilateral total knee and hip replacement in the country.
Dr. Gitanjali Yadav is a specialist in plant stress biology and is presently heading the Department of Bioinformatics at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi. Earlier, she has received many awards and honours in her student and professional life for being an outstanding young researcher including the CSIR fellowship, IYBA award, INSA medal, NASI young scientist and ISCA awards.
Dr. Mukesh Jain has contributed extensively in the field of Science and Technology, especially in the area of plant genomics and biotechnology for crop improvement. He has been conferred several National and International Awards including Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award from the Department of Biotechnology. Indian National Science Academy Medal for Young Scientist, Young Scientist Award for the Indian Science Congress Association.
MLA Mr. Aftab Ahmed, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Haryana Mr. P.K. Das, scientists, technologists and large number of students were also present on the occasion.