Events
& Issues
New
Delhi, 7 January 2021
Sc & Tech
To Fight COVID-19
Dr.S.Saraswathi
(Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)
The draft of the new
Science and Technology Policy has been released which is the fifth policy
document of the Government of India on the subject since independence. It aims
at advancing towards inclusive and self-reliant India – Atmanirbhar Bharat. No
amount of political will and ambition can make the country self-sufficient
without appropriate support of S&T.
The policy is one of
the most important public policies and like other policies, a comprehensive
document touching several aspects. As science and technology has become an
indispensable component of every field of human interests, needs, and
activities, new policy has come at the right time.
The present policy
with multifarious objectives and labeled as Science, Technology and Innovation
Policy 2020 (STIP 2020) is drafted to
impart a new outlook and strategy
for S & T and Innovation by re-orienting priorities, modifying sectoral focus and strategies. STIP is more closely linked
with the goals of socio-economic progress and welfare than the earlier
policies. In this way, S&T will
become part of as well as promoter of development and not remain an independent
and separate field of knowledge unrelated to day-to-day life.
Science and
technology is no longer considered two different fields. They are together and
also linked with innovation. There is no technology without science and there
is no science if it is kept a secret in textbooks. Innovation is the spirit
behind the two.
The word “innovation”
was inserted in S&T Policy in 2013. The object was to build a robust
innovative economic system in some key areas such as agriculture, industries,
health, water, environment, infrastructure and so on.
Global Innovation
Index (GII) 2020 – an annual publication with data from various sources including
the World Intellectual Property Organisation and World Bank has placed India in
rank 48 among 131 countries. The index
provides details of innovation performance of countries and economies around
the world. GII 2019 analysed medical
innovation and landscape of the decade
1921-30 to see how technological and non-technological medical
innovation will transform the delivery of healthcare worldwide.
Similar ranking of
countries was made for energy innovation in 2018 and food programme innovation
in 2017. India’s performance was said to be remarkable in “ICT Services
Exports” holding 1st rank in the publication of WIPO. For research
and development, India was granted Rank 35 and Rank 9 for government’s on-line
services which is increasing day-by-day due to technological advancement.
STIP 2020 is built
over the previous policies and they all were designed to serve the needs of the
time. The first Scientific Policy Resolution 1958 laid the foundation for
scientific enterprise and temper which was missing totally under the British
rule. The Technology Policy Statement of
1983 spoke of self-reliance and turned attention to indigenous technology – a
recognition of people’s science and technology to meet people’s aspirations.
By the turn of the
century, science had spread its wings far and wide to become an integral part
of entire human life and all other disciplines so as to become itself
multi-disciplinary. 2003 policy dealt with science and technology separately
and also with their role in economic and social spheres. The strict barrier
between science and humanities began to weaken in academic courses.
International collaboration in scientific research and technological
innovations followed opening the road to Open Science Policy.
The fourth policy declared
in 2013 introduced the term “innovation” and used it for economic system also.
It came in the Decade of Innovation (2010-20) declared by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh. Infrastructure building became the primary concern in the
development agenda, be it any field –
agriculture, industry, health and hygiene, education, natural resources, transport and
communications, and so on. Centenary
Session of the Indian Science Congress held in 2013 adopted the theme “Science
for Shaping the Future of India”. The focus was on sustainable and inclusive
growth for all.
STIP 2020 is drafted
to revolve around the core principles listed as “de-centralised,
evidence-informed, bottom-up, experts-driven, and inclusive” in its ends and
strategies so as to meet the needs of development in the era of globalisation.
Fast moving changes required today are possible only with innovations based on
science and technology. Obsolete methods and instruments have to be removed in
the same speed and enthusiasm as new ones are devised and applied to survive in
the global market. The very purpose and goals of S&T have so radically
changed between 1958 and 2020 that no individual and no household remains
beyond its influence and impact.
STIP 2020, which is
now coming into effect, has to address the situation that has arisen from
COVID-19 pandemic. In the field of health which includes several sub-fields,
science, technology, and innovation have a very important role. Pandemics in particular demand policy
interventions and innovative programmes not just for medical care but treatment
of the patients. Prevention of the spread of the disease being a major concern,
non-medical organisations and services are fully involved leaving no area of
activity untouched.
COVID-19 has
underscored the pressing need of countries to focus more on elevating STI in
policy and practice. People want STI to directly translate into benefits in
their daily life, which means, in the era of COVID-19, the eradication of the
disease. The UNO issued a call for Technology Solutions for tackling COVID-19
and its impacts.
S&T sector
comprises data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence – all of
which are contributing to fight COVID-19. The pandemic that is going strong for
more than a year has taught us the importance of disease
tracking, contacts tracing, prediction outcomes, quarantine life, social
distancing strategies, etc., to control
its spread. At the same time, it has
provoked thinking and action to minimize disturbances to normal life and to carry
on domestic, social, economic, educational and other activities. For all kinds
of relief processes including clearing health claims, we have to depend on
technological support for efficiency, speed, and economy. It is STI that has helped us to face the
adverse impact of COVID-19.
Artificial
Intelligence (AI) used to track infected persons with travel history, robots to
deliver food and medicines, drones to disinfect public places, broadcasts and
audio-messages to disseminate information and, so on have become common
household words. They are fruits of
STI.
Prompt and clear
communication of all scientific advice and evidence-based findings, which are
in the domain of S&T is absolutely necessary for international fight
against COVID-19 or any other pandemic. On the other hand, circulation of fake
news and false information - also possible through S&T – is a growing
menace to be curbed.
Science – not just
medical science – comprising a number of disciplines is concentrating on making
vaccines for prevention of COVID-19 and its more virulent viruses. Therefore,
criticism from some quarters regarding the relevance of STIP at this juncture
is unwarranted.
Political opposition
to COVID vaccine is typical Indian political behaviour. Opposition, if any, has to come from S&T.
Science alone can refute another scientific finding and not political
ideologies or faith and belief.
Individuals must trust scientific guidance.---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
|