For the primary time, India is recording the voice of the unvoiced by neighborhood radio for the formulation of a science and know-how coverage.
The method of formulation of Science Know-how and Innovation Coverage (STIP)-2020 has been initiated by the Division of Science and Know-how (DST) together with the Workplace of Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), Authorities of India specializing in decentralization of coverage design by making it a bottom-up and inclusive course of.
The coverage formulation course of, primarily based on 4 interlinked tracks masking cowl almost 15,000 stakeholders, additionally entails inclusion of inputs by neighborhood radio. Accordingly, Nationwide Council for Science and Know-how Communication (NCSTC), DST, has devised a novel method to seize the inputs of individuals for S&T by involvement of Group Radio Stations (CRS). Out of 291 Group Radio Stations (CRS) throughout the nation, 25 CRS has been recognized primarily based on regional range, gender, and outreach functionality. The method is being carried out by Commonwealth Academic Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) for capability constructing and handholding.
Audio content material on the coverage developed by DST is being broadcast in 13 Indian languages together with an attention-grabbing jingle by recognized CRS from 1st August 2020, and this broadcast will proceed until 30th September 2020. The information from these stations can be collected in a number of codecs for inclusion in STIP 2020. Focus Group Dialogue (FGD) with the neighborhood representatives have already began.
This coverage goals to realign priorities of the STI ecosystem as per the necessity of various scientific sectors, and the people-centric strategy thus would align it with the altering aspirations of society for holistic socio-economic growth of the nation. A participatory mannequin with 4 interconnected tracks has been adopted to formulate this coverage to seize the basic ethos of participatory democracy.
“The coverage on science, know-how, and innovation would significantly acquire by the insights from the grass-roots in identification of the related issues and the processes required for successfully addressing them,” mentioned Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST.
Supply: PIB