Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) discussed the proposal for the development of the State Science and Technology Programme in Ladakh on September 8.

Secretary, IT/Science and Technology, Amit Sharma informed the LG that the vision of the implementation of the State Science and Technology Programme (SSTP) is to catalyse Science Technology Innovation (STI) ecosystem by assessing, developing, and delivering appropriate S&T-based solutions to Ladakh-specific challenges. He also informed that the mission of the programme is to develop a holistic STI ecosystem for the socio-economic development of Ladakh.

He apprised L-G of the objectives of the SSTP, including formulation of STI Policy for Ladakh, identification of S&T needs of Ladakh through consultations with stakeholders to facilitate socio-economic development of communities of Ladakh, identification and demonstration/dissemination of proven technologies useful for adoption by societies in Ladakh, support STI projects on issues of Ladakh in the evaluation and monitoring process of and strengthening the delivery mechanism for technology deployment, develop and support the appropriate programmes and systemic interventions for nurturing and catalysing the STI ecosystem in Ladakh in coordination with the R&D Institutes/Agencies and Industry.

Along with informing the LG about the Governing Council and Executive Council, Sharma apprised the LG of the proposed programmes, viz. establishment of Ladakh Science Centre, S&T Research Grants on Ladakh-specific issues, entrepreneurship development, support to conferences/workshops, travel grant support to researchers from Ladakh; popularisation of science through annual programs such as Ladakh Science Congress and Children Science Congress, publication of scientific and policy papers, etc.

 It was informed that the proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI, for assistance in the development of the State Science and Technology Councils Programme.

LG commended the department led by Sharma along with the University of Ladakh led by Prof SK Mehta for the initiative and instructed them to expedite the submission of the proposal to the Ministry of Science and Technology at the earliest.