Page 29 - NIS English November16-30
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A MORE NUTRITIOUS INDIAN PLATTER SCIENCE-SOCIETY-SETU FOR
AATMANIRBHAR BHARAT
To fulfil the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, solution-cen-
tric Science and Technology (S&T) interventions are es-
sential with the bottom-up approach for identifying the
problems that lack resolution and top-down approach
rime Minister Narendra Modi gave for solutions on issues identified to develop and pro-
Pspecial emphasis on innovation in mote locally-driven enterprises and services for a bet-
food nutrition during the 75-year cel- ter quality of life. The Science-Society-Setu for Aatma
ebration of the Food and Agriculture Nirbhar Bharat was launched with an objective to reach
Organisation. He said seeds of 17 new the unreached. With effective alignment of technology,
varieties of different crops including knowledge, skills and resources at local level, the pro-
wheat and paddy in India are being gramme aims to strengthen the ‘Social Infrastructure’
made available to the farmers. He said and ‘Technology Driven System’ pillars of the Aatma
often the common varieties of crops Nirbhar Bharat.
lack some nutritious substances or mi-
cro-nutrients. The improved varieties of
these crops are free from these deficien-
cies and have higher nutritional value.
Over the years, there has been a lot of
great work in the country in the research
and development of such seeds.
Now crops that are rich in nutritious
substances like protein, iron, zinc etc. Agriculture and Social
are being promoted in the country. Ef- allied sector Infrastructure
forts are being made to ensure that the
production of coarse cereals -- Millets MSME & Cross-sectoral
such as ragi, jowar, bajra, kodo, jhango- Economic Sector Areas
ra, barri, kotki, etc. is increased and the
people incorporate these grains in their
diet. India has also proposed to declare OBJECTIVES OF SCIENCE-SOCIETY-SETU
2023 as the International Year of Millets. FOR AATMANIRBHAR BHARAT
l Advancing the S&T capacity of NGOs/CBOs and
tion, the programme was launched. Communities
WHY RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT l Orienting the knowledge organisations to social-
Various innovations and initiatives in ly required and relevant R&D with innovation and
the field of agricultural research herald- fostering linkages with S&T NGOs to deliver ap-
ed the Green Revolution in the world in propriate and affordable technologies with scale
general and India in particular, thereby l Identifying new ideas and partners for evolving
not only preventing millions of starvation SEED schemes directed towards indigenous tech-
deaths but also helped countless people nologies and effective delivery mechanisms
climb out of the abyss of poverty. But, l Creating Grassroots Innovation Centres and
the global agenda of conquering hunger workable business models for socio-economic re-
and eliminating malnutrition is far from growth in the rural landscape
exhausted. Malnutrition affects close to
New India Samachar 27
