State hitches Rs 7 crore more to science & tech mission

After throwing peanuts at the cause of science and research, the Congress-led Democratic Front state government has done a rethink. Instead of the Rs 4.73 crore it coughed up for the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Mission (RGSTM) only when scientist CNR Rao panned politicians for neglecting science right after winning the Bharat Ratna the government has now dished out Rs 11.82 crore.

MiD DAY's report on November 23

Rao had reportedly called politicos ‘idiots' for being remiss in shelling out funds for advancing science, a remark he later refuted he had made, acknowledging that he had only called the lax ‘idiotic'. MiD DAY, in its issue on November 23, had reported about the state's measly sop to science after Rao censured the establishment for making a negligible provision to enhance research and exploration capabilities, a provision that amounts less than 1 per cent of the funds allotted under the annual state development plan.

While Rs 49,000 crore was pumped in for the plan, the government tagged Rs 4.73 crore to the RGSTM, headed by renowned nuclear scientist Dr Anil Kakodkar. Even this paltry allocation came seven months after the new financial year started. Now, the state has issued a corrigendum to its original order issued on November 17, saying the approved budgetary outlay under science and technology head should be read as Rs 11.82 crore, instead of Rs 4.73 crore.