Lok Sabha DebatesThe Minister Of State Of The Ministry Of Development Of North Eastern Region And ... on 2 May, 2013> 

  

Title: The Minister of  State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs laid a statement regarding status  of implementation of the recommendations contained in the 237th Report of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and  Forests on Demands for Grants (2012-13), pertaining to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology.THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PABAN SINGH GHATOWAR): Madam, on behalf of Shri S. Jaipal Reddy, I beg to lay the statement in pursuance of Direction No. 73A of the Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha issued vide Lok Sabha Bulletin, Part II, dated 1st September, 2004 to inform the esteemed House about the status of implementation of recommendations contained in Two Hundred Thirty Seventh Report on the recommendations made by Department- related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment & Forests on Action taken by the Department on the recommendations contained in 227th Report of the Committee on Demands for Grants (2012-2013) of Department of Scientific & Industrial Research.The Committee, while reviewing the working and considering the detailed Demands for Grants of DSIR, analyzed the same with reference to the aims, objectives and achievements of the Department and presented the 227th Report thereon to both the Houses on 18th May, 2012. There were 26 recommendations in 227th Report of the Committee. Majority of them were advisory and appreciative in nature. The Department has furnished a detailed Action Taken Note on these recommendations to the Committee on 29.08.2012.The Committee presented its 237th Report on the Action Taken by the Department on the recommendations contained in the 227th Report and presented to both the Houses of Parliament on 20th December, 2012.Some of the most significant recommendations are reproduced below:• 'Mechanism to Monitor and Review the Ongoing Schemes'- The Committee notes the reply given by the Department and hopes   that in the years to come the Department would not only maintain its good performance on Result Framework Document (RFD) but would further improve it;•       'Performance in the Eleventh Five Year Plan'- The Department has not furnished any reason for reduction of its allocation at Budgetary Estimate (B.E) stage. The Committee, however, hopes that the Department would make optimum utilisation of funds allocated to it. The Committee desires that the Department should take up the issue of huge cut in Plan outlays with the Planning Commission and impress upon the Commission to realistically view the requirement of the Department in the Twelfth Five Year Plan and bring the concern expressed by the Committee to the notice of the Planning Commission;•       'Achievements of CSIR'- The Committee notes the reply but would like CSIR scientists to win prestigious international awards and help Indian Industry to develop globally competitive products on a regular basis. The Committee further observes that steps being taken in this regard should have been spelt out in its Action Taken Note.•       'Technopreneur Promotion Programme - The Committee is happy to note the expansion of Technopreneur Promotion Programme and hopes that Department would ensure that the programme achieves its goal of making India a technology and innovation driven society;•       'Outlay Proposed and Allocation approved for 2012-13'- The Committee hopes that the Department will take up the matter with the Planning Commission/Ministry of Finance for restoration of funds at Revised Estimates stage. The Committee notes the reply of the Department and hopes that Central Electronics Limited (CEL) would make available cost effective Solar Photovoltaic Modules to Indian consumers in a fixed time frame;•       'Programmes of CSIR- National Laboratories Scheme'- The Committee notes the initiative taken by the CSIR to explore and to further enhance its capabilities by incorporating a company named   

'CSIR Tech Private Limited (CTPL) and hopes that this new venture would result in effective commercialization of CSIR technologies;•       'Programmes of CSIR- National S&T Human Resource Development scheme'- The Committee is pleased to note that the Department has agreed to the proposal of the Committee to widen the ambit of its 250 CSIR handholding scholarships to the students suffering from other serious physical disabilities; and   

•       Interaction between industry and CSIR- The Committee notes the reply of the Department and hopes that CSIR would soon be able to work in partnership with other big industrial players in its endeavour to increase the share of private funds for Research & Development activities.The copy of the Action Taken Note on 237th Report, which was forwarded to Rajya Sabha Secretariat on 19.03.2013, is laid on the Table.… (Interruptions)