Kathmandu, June 15
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the country would be steered ahead on the path of development and prosperity through the optimum utilisation of modern science and technology.
Inaugurating the First Science, Information and Technology National Youth Conference organised by the National Youth Council in the capital today, he stressed on the need of connecting the available means and resources to prosperity in a scientific way.
“We have possibility on natural resources, means and minerals. The only thing necessary is will power and the commitment. The youth scientists should have the sense of ‘we can and we shall do it’. Nobody can stop us from developing if we have this,” Prime Minister Oli said, adding that the government was ready to support to generating employment and stopping the outmigration of youth scientists from the country. He also urged the youth scientists to work with commitment on this.
Noting that science and technology were important for the development and increasing production and productivity, PM Oli said priority would be given to using science and technology in agriculture development and management of mineral-based products.
He observed that the country could not take stride in development as it could not utilise science and technology. “Now is the time to resolve that we would no more tolerate this backwardness and poverty. Every new height of goal should be determined for this. The responsibility of developing the country has now come on the shoulders of the youth,” the Prime Minister exhorted.
Referring to a different context, PM Oli said he was working with the determination to protect the nation and not his post and sought the cooperation from all sectors in this journey for prosperity. He also expressed the commitment to implement the conclusions drawn from the conference by connecting it with the nation’s prosperity.
Minister for Youth and Sports, Jagat Bahadur Sunar (Bishwakarma), was of the view of making maximum utilisation of youth resources in efforts meant for achieving good governance, development and prosperity in the country.
“The Ministry has come up with various programmes aim to promote scientific research and studies and making youths productive and self-sufficient.”
According to Council executive vice chair Madhv Dhungel, the council plans to launch youth-target programmes nationwide, focusing on their productivity and self-employment skills.
Executive director of Tilganga Institute for Ophthalmologist Prof Dr Sanduk Ruit underlined the need of incorporating youth power through the means of science and technology in efforts meant for gaining prosperity in the country.
Conference coordinator Khim Panthi said the objective of the conference is to increase youth’s participation in the building of a prosperous nation by making youth scientists updated with technologies.
The conference is aimed to make objective review of various thematic issues relating to science, information and communications sector, determine a work policy for upcoming 10 years and taking scientific innovations and findings of researches and studies made by Nepal’s youth scientists to the people.
The three-day conference will witness the paper presentations on 12 topics such as medicine and ayurveda, indigenous technology and traditional practices, life sciences, agriculture and forestry, astronomy and space science, information communication and technology, earth, environment and meteorology, nanotechnology, radiation and energy and engineering and material sciences, and theme of natural sciences, among others.
Around 400 youth researchers, scientists, policy makers and representatives from science-related organisations are participating in the event.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister inspected an exhibition on science, information and technology demonstrating inventions of youth scientists. The expo was held on the premises of Khumaltar-based National Trust for Nature Conservation.
