Mangalore: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government is planning to set up sub-regional science centres in all the districts of the state.
Speaking after inaugurating the state’s second Regional Science Centre at Pilikula in the city on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said the state government has already sent a proposal to the central government in this regard. It is in addition to the 10 sub-regional science centres, which are already planned at district levels, he said.
Requesting for a ‘giant collaboration’ with the central government, Siddaramaiah asked Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shripad Yasso Naik, who was present on the dais, to support the cause.
Chief Minister said, “The objective to set up science centres is to create scientific temper among students and public on science related matters”.
The chief minister also thanked the central government which provided financial assistance to construct a regional science centre in Pilikula. He said, the state government will complete the work on a 3D planetarium, which will come at a cost of ?24.50 crore at Pilikula in Mangalore in two years.
Minister S.R. Patil said the state government is starting a ‘Knowledge center’ in Mysore with an estimated cost of Rs 17 crores.
Develop love for basic science
The Chief Minister encouraged students and the public to develop love for basic science. He said, ‘Science enlightens to get away with superstitious belief. The amendment of Article 51 (A) (H) of the Indian constitution encourages its citizens to develop scientific temper. But, not many follow”.
Siddaramaiah said, we have literacy rate between 75 – 100 %, but what’s the literacy rate in basic science?, he asked.
Pilikula architect and MLA JR Lobo presented a key note address. District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Moiudeen Bawa, MLC’s Ganesh Karnik and Ivan D’souza, former minister Vijay Kumar Shetty were among others present on the dais.
