Science and Technology Policy in India

Historical Context for S&T Policy in India
• Importance of S&T was recognized during the colonial rule itself. • Indigenous efforts for modern science • Harnessing S&T for development in Independent India was a cherished objective. • Support of thinkers, industrialists, scientists and freedom fighters • Two camps on development approach came up one with rapid industrialization, massive projects like dams and modernization of all sectors in industry (Nehru) and the other with local industry and agriculture (Gandhi)
India: S&T Policy and Focus on Ethics
Key Focus: Equity/ Inclusion/ Access * We propose to use them to assess the S&T policies, new technologies and outcomes instead of using „universal‟ values * Access means access to S&T, fruits of S&T and access to information * Inclusion means inclusion of all sections of society as beneficiaries and meeting their needs so that they enjoy fruits of S&T and also benefit as citizens, consumer * Equity means equitable distribution and sharing of fruits of S&T and directing S&T to facilitate this
Hale Waihona Puke Equity/ Inclusion/ Access
• Part of Social conflict • Direction, pace, nature of products: Source of Injustice • What if all good words are there: Poverty, Global disparities, justice etc. • What different types of inequalities? • Unequal outcomes are measured with ideas of access, affordability, distributive justice etc. but no focus on the nature of R&D priorities themselves • Growing role of Private sector.
• • • • • • • India: S&T Policy and Focus on Ethics Historical Context for S&T Policy in India Drivers of S&T Policy Public Perception Analysis Ethics and Policy Focus Institutional Architecture Way Forward in the Project Study
Science and Technology Policy in India: Ethics, Institutions and Policy Frameworks
Sachin Chaturvedi
GEST Project Workshop, Preston 15th March 2012
Outline
Equity/ Inclusion/ Access
Sen‟s idea of Equality (Inequality Reexamined) • Why Equality and What Equality? • „Equality is judged by comparing some particular aspect of a person (such as income, or wealth, or happiness, or opportunities, or rights, or need-fulfilments) with the same aspect of another person.‟ • The inherent diversity of human beings means that treating them equally with respect to one such „focal variable‟ may lead to considerable inequalities in other dimensions. • Then how do we approach this in our project! What examples are there where S&T is used to reduce inequality? • European theory of Social Cohesion (Communitarian S&T Policy)