Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated Science Museum at Government Senior Secondary School for Boys at Chamba today. While addressing the students on the occasion, Chief Minister said that this museum had been set up by the Ministry of Science and Technology Government of India and was the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up 75 Science Museums in various aspirational districts of the country.
Chief Minister said that the main objective of these science museums was not only to make the people in general and students in particular aware of India's scientific journey and achievements during the last 75 years of independent India, but also to inculcate scientific temper among school children.
He said that this Museum had been named as Pandit Jaiwant Ram Upmanyu Science Museum as a mark of respect to the first Speaker of State Vidhan Sabha and the first Head Master of Indian origin in State High School Chamba.
Jai Ram Thakur said that DBT NIPGR-Pandit Jaiwant Ram Upamanyu Science Museum established at Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Chamba was the first Science Museum of Himachal Pradesh which is part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mohtsav’.
He said that this science museum had been developed with the aim of promoting science education and awareness among the people. He expressed hope that the museum would play an important role in supplementing the science education in the region and in developing scientific temper among the people and the youth.
He said that establishment of science museums in the aspirational districts of the country under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology would contribute immensely in overall education campaign of the Government of India.
He said that National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) is an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India which focuses on both basic science and translation work.
Chief Minister said that ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mohtsav’ was an initiative of the Government of India to commemorate and celebrate 75 years of ‘Progressive India’ and remember the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.
He said that this festival was dedicated to the people of India, who had played an important role in making India one of the major world power. He said that Himachal Pradesh was also celebrating 75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh and celebrating 75 events throughout the State to thank every contributor of the State who had been the partners of development of the State over these years.
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Earth Science (Independent Charge) Dr. Jatinder Singh said that the Union Government had prepared a comprehensive program ‘Holistic education and public participation’ from pre-school to 12th standard with an aim to improve the quality of school education by focusing on the ‘Two Ts’ i.e teacher and technology.
Deputy Speaker Dr Hansraj, MLA Chamba Pawan Nayar, Secretary Bio Technology Government of India Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Chairman Marketing Committee D.S.Thakur, District BJP President Jasbir Nagpal, Director Science and Technology Government of India Subhra Chakravarty, Deputy Commissioner Chamba D.C. Rana, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav were present on the occasion among others.