CM Sarbananda Sonowal all Praise for Child Scientists’ Enthusiasm

A Correspondent

DOOMDOOMA: Asserting that science was an integral part of life in the 21st century, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was all praise for child scientists of Assam for their enthusiasm for science. He said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 27th State-level National Children Science Congress (NCSC) held at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Rangajan, about 7 km away from Doomdooma in Tinsukia district, as chief guest on Saturday.

He was especially pleased to note that out of 292 child scientists that came from 33 districts of Assam, as many as 150 were girls against 142 boys. Here again, the heartening aspect was that of them, 228 were from rural areas while remaining 64 were from urban areas. This shows that over the years, science has made its stride in a significant manner to the rural areas of Assam as well. Sonowal said that nature had gifted Assam abundantly. At the same time, the land is inhabited by different ethnic groups having rich traditions and cultures. He lamented that before Independence, Assam was amongst the topmost States of India having its GDP six times higher than that of other advanced States.

“So science has to permeate into every strata of our society, right from the cultivators who form the backbone. This is the age of smartness. So we have to develop our close relationship with science and technology without impairing our environment,” he said. On superstition and witch hunting, he said, “We have to prove that we are a civilized society in the world and so a reforming agency under the name and style ‘Manuhe Manuhar babe’ had been started by the State Government last year to deal with the problem.”

Before the inaugural meeting Chief Minister Sonowal planted a tree at the entrance of the venue. The meeting was presided over by Arup Kumar Mishra, Director of Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) and was attended by Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta, MLA of Digboi, Suren Phukan, MLA of Margherita, Bhaskar Sarma and MLA of Duliajan, Teras Gowala and Chingphou King Bisanam Chingphou, among others.

Two teacher guides - Jyotish Kumar Kalita of Darang district and Tahsil Chutia of Dhemaji district- who were selected as Best Teacher Guides, were given away the prizes by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta.

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