Page 39 - Agenda for VP's 54th GB & 31st GB Meeting Ver 1.0

VIGYAN PRASAR: 54th GOVERNING BODY MEETING & 31st GENERAL BODY MEETING
Agenda # 8: Other Points
As a matter of the fact the rationalisation of Autonomous Bodies by Niti Ayog and the Department of Expenditure (DoE) is underway. The recommendations of DoE have stated to been received by DST. The recommendation ( as shared by DST) in respect of Vigyan Prasar is as follows:
Recommendation – IV: Vigyan Prasar, Noida may be closed and a cell may be setup at DST Headquarter to carry out the functions presently being done by Vigyan Prasar.
In view of the unique and important role being played by Vigyan Prasar to empower citizenry with scientific temper and to help attaining the aim of scientific knowledge- based economy, an attempt has been made to emphasise the necessity of strengthening Vigyan Prasar. Annexure V. The same has also been forwarded to DST. Vigyan Prasar is committedly pursuing with DST for its direction and providing timely inputs for appropriately taking up the matter with DoE.
Draft response as prepared by DST to the recommendation referred above is as under:
Response - IV DST already has a small Division dealing with Science Popularization amongst young children and developing scientific temper amongst public at large, which works in close liaison with Vigyan Prasar. Vigyan Prasar was set up in the first place to enhance the outreach and scale of these activities to meet the requirements of a large population in the country, that is so diverse in terms of geographical spread, linguistics and culture.
Closing Vigyan Prasar will be a retrograde step and seriously compromise the efficacy of our interventions in this important area. Vigyan Prasar runs “INDIASCIENCE.in”, India’s own and first dedicated Science & Technology OTT Channel, that can be accessed on Google, Apple and Jio platforms. During the last eighteen months, it has already produced more than 2000 films and documentaries and live streamed 200 important events. INDIASCIENCE has recently signed an MoU with IBM to popularize science & technology amongst school children through a flagship project called “Engage with Science”. It will be impractical to carry forward these initiatives by a small cell in DST at a scale being carried out now by Vigyan Prasar and to fulfill the aspirational agenda for future. We propose that Vigyan Prasar to continue as a standalone entity under a separate umbrella cluster of service organizations.
Hon’ble GB may like to peruse and guide the way forward for strengthening Vigyan Prasar instead of its closure. Strengthening Vigyan Prasar will help sustaining the momentum of National level tasks being handled by VP.
Agenda for 54th Governing Body & 31st General Body 39