New
scheme on the anvil to woo top Indian scientists to India
Taking a cue from China, the
Planning Commission is working on a totally new approach to get top Indian
scientists working abroad to spend some time doing teaching and research in
scientific and technical research institutions here.
Disclosing this, a top official in
the Ministry of Science and Technology told The Hindu, that a salient
feature of the proposed new scheme is that instead of being offered a job
through the normal recruitment routes, the scientists would be selected by an
expert committee consisting of top level Indian and international scientists
and invited by the Government to work here for short periods.
The selected scientists would be
paid directly by the Government through a special window and not by the
institutions where they would be working. The remuneration is likely to be at
least Rs. 55 lakh [US dollar 1,00,000]. In addition, they would be offered
fully furnished accommodation plus some relocation expenses and a certain
amount as research grant.
The scientists would also have the
flexibility to choose as to when they want to take up the proposal and also the
length of time they want to spend here.
Asked whether the offer that are
proposed under the scheme was not way above the salaries and other perks
enjoyed by scientists working here, the official noted, “we are not talking
about people who are actively looking for a job here. We are talking about
those scientists who already are in prestigious positions abroad, but want to
do something for their mother land.’’.
He pointed out that China had been
able to attract over 1,000 of their scientists working abroad to return to
their homeland for varying periods of time for taking up teaching and research
assignments and noted that Australia too has recently come out with a similar
scheme that provides positions at three times the normal remuneration for top
class Australian scientists working abroad.
The Plan Panel, he said was
envisaging the selection of 25 scientists under the scheme to begin with, as a
pilot project. The proposal is to increase it in stages to 100 scientists. The
scientists would be allowed to and hire upto two research scholars of their
choice to work with them.
Among other things, he said the
Planning Commission was looking at making the scheme a joint activity with top
corporates. The plan is to let them also offer such scholarships and let the
scientists be associated with their laboratories.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman,
Montek Ahluwalia, who has conceptualised the scheme, is holding a meeting with
Secretaries of the various science departments in New Delhi on January 22 to
firm up its details.
The scheme is likely to be named
after the first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It is proposed to be
called ‘National Jawaharlal Nehru Science Fellowship/ Professorships’
programme.
Asked about the extra burden on the
exchequer, - the scheme is expected to cost Rs. 15 crores per year including
various perks, the official noted, “it may seem a lot of money. But, injecting
25 top scientists into our institutions would have many positives in terms of
impact on research and motivation of younger scientists’’.
As an adjunct, the Plan panel is
also looking at the possibility of a similar scheme at Assistant Professor
level for younger less established scientists, the official added.
P. Sunderarajan TH 130120
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