Kathmandu, Sept 18: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged scientists to help realise country’s aspiration for ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’ by connecting science and technology with production.
Scientists should assist the government on the path to peace and good governance following establishment of stable government and political achievements, with its goals of development and prosperity, he said at a programme organised on the Seventh National Science Day here today.
“We are very much used to be making criticism and venting dissatisfaction. But economic development and prosperity should take place with changing time. There is no need for a country rich in natural resources and housing generations of mighty and wise ancestors to fall behind,” said the Prime Minister.
“Some self-centered elements are becoming regressive and over-excited and are describing supremacy by birth unscientifically beyond development and good governance. Now the country should not entangle in such things.”
He also committed to providing additional budget in science so as to create environment conducive for scientists to work. “Our tradition is not superstition, but scientific and practical. We must develop prosperous society by linking this tradition with modern technology,” he said.
On the occasion, ‘National Science and Innovation Policy-2076 BS’ was unveiled.
The seventh National Science Day is being observed today with the slogan of ‘ Science, Technology and Innovation: Socio-Economic Transformation’.
On the occasion, former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal said the promotion of science and technology was the priority of the incumbent government. He urged one and all to gear up for nation building through the maximum utilisation of self -wisdom and competency.
The weeklong celebration at the state and local levels started on September 26 and will conclude on September 22.
Quiz contests, essay and poetry competition, innovative programmes, dialogues and exhibition of art and inventions are the part of the celebration.
Earlier, a main celebration committee meeting was organised under the convenorship of Minister for Education, Science and Technology Girirajmani Pokhrel to celebrate the Day.
On the occasion, 14 students (from community and private schools in seven states) who passed the plus two under the Faculty of Science with high scores were honoured.
Similarly, journalists Gopal Bhandari and Santoshi Adhikari were presented with an award carrying a purse of Rs 15,000 each.
The BP Koirala Memorial Planetarium and Observatory, Science Teachers Society, and Robotics Association organised several science-related exhibitions.
The government on November 23, 2012 decided to observe the first day of Asoj in the month of Nepali calendar as National Science Day.
