New Delhi: The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) held a crucial brainstorming session today, October 22, 2024, to launch the Mission on Science & Technology for Sustainable Livelihood System at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe. The meeting brought together key government officials and nodal officers from various ministries and departments, emphasizing the collaborative approach needed to enhance livelihoods and promote sustainable development.
Chaired by Dr. (Mrs.) Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the PSA, the session included representatives from the Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and several other key ministries.
The mission aims to harness scientific advancements and technological innovations to improve livelihoods across communities. It was recommended during the 22nd Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) meeting on January 19, 2023, to strengthen the technology delivery mechanism and enhance the quality of life.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Maini emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration, urging participants to converge existing programs to create scalable and inclusive livelihood models. The primary objective of the meeting was to define the roles and responsibilities of each participating ministry in various components of the mission and to develop a strategy for selecting pilot sites for implementation.
Dr. Sangeeta Agarwal, Scientist-F at the Office of the PSA, presented the mission’s objectives and outlined the importance of clear roles for each ministry to ensure successful implementation. She also discussed the strategy for selecting pilot sites. Following her presentation, Dr. Anita Aggarwal from the Department of Science and Technology highlighted the SEED Division programs and shared insights on the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan initiative led by IIT Delhi.
The session included active participation from the nodal officers, who provided insights into the ongoing efforts of their respective ministries in implementing flagship schemes at the district and village levels. Discussions focused on how these schemes could converge and support the national mission.