Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science & Technology (KCCRSST) at Chandigarh University on January 03, 2022. He also launched a Scholarship Scheme, worth Rs 10 crore, for the wards of Defence Personnel of the three Services.
In his address, Shri Rajnath Singh described the establishment of the Research Centre as an important step towards strengthening the space sector of the country by stressing that it is only through these efforts that India can become a leader in future technologies. He likened the KCCRSST with ‘pride of India’ Kalpana Chawla, hoping that this research facility would touch new heights of success, similar to the remarkable achievements of the late India-born astronaut who brought universal recognition to her country of origin.
“In the 21st century, the future of India can be secured only when you have a gleam in your eyes to reach the stars and planets. More Indians like Aryabhatta, Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and Kalpana Chawla will emerge from amongst you all if you eye different planets and constellations,” the Raksha Mantri told the students present on the occasion.
Underlining the importance of the space sector in today’s times, Shri Rajnath Singh said, it is deeply connected with mapping, imaging and connectivity facilities, speedy transportation, weather forecast, disaster management as well as border security, adding that it played a crucial role in keeping the world connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, from testing to data-transfer & analyses. The Government understands the potential of the space sector, he added, recalling the four major pillars of reforms in the sector envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. These pillars are: freedom of innovation to the private sector; role of the government as an enabler; preparing the youth for the future and viewing the space sector as a resource for progress. He hoped that the actions identified in the pillars will take the space sector to newer heights and give new direction to the country’s progress.
The Raksha Mantri called for an active and long-term public-private partnership to take the education & science sectors to a global level and make India a knowledge economy.“Today, the private sector is exposed to a large number of opportunities in the space sector. Whether it is defence or space, we are fully welcoming the private sector,” he said, reiterating the Government’s commitment of strengthening the private sector for the holistic development of the Nation.
Listing out some of the measures aimed at tapping the potential of the private sector, Shri Rajnath Singh said, the Government is sharing technology & expertise and opening its various facilities for the industry. He stated that transfer of matured technologies is under consideration. On the setting up of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), he said, the independent agency will act as a single window for matters related to the space sector.
The Raksha Mantri added that the Government is laying special emphasis on promoting the use of space-based applications through every sector. Use of geo-tagging for roads and other infrastructure in villages, monitoring of development works in remote areas through satellite imagery, and identifying problems related to crops and fields for farmers is helping the government in many ways, he added.
Shri Rajnath Singh called for working towards development of futuristic technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big-Data and Block-chain for the overall development of the Nation. He stressed that progress in space technology will develop scientific temper in the youth of the country and India will move forward in frontier technologies.
The Raksha Mantri lauded the Chandigarh University for setting records of success in research & innovation in the last few years. He described the achievements of the University as a symbol of the increasing participation of the private sector in the field of education. He also commended Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for being one of the world’s top space agencies since decades through its hard work and vision.
Remembering late India-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla, Shri Rajnath Singh described her as a symbol of women empowerment, who took a flight beyond imagination. He urged the people to maintain her zeal & enthusiasm and motivate their daughters to go ahead & touch unimaginable heights, echoing the Government’s vision of increased participation of women in all sectors.
Established with the objective of training students in space science, satellite development and meet future challenges in space research, the state-of-the-art KCCRSSTwould be the Ground Control Station for the Chandigarh University’s Student Satellite (CUSat), an in-house developed nano-satellite being designed by the students of the university and a Geo-Spatial Centre for research, besides other projects.
The CUSat will be among the 75 student-built satellites to be launched into space on the eve of the 75thIndependence Day in 2022. The Chandigarh University has joined the list of 13 institutes like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, IIT Bombay and became the first university in North India to design and develop its own satellite. For the project, 75 students of the University have been working on the Chandigarh University Student Satellite Project under the guidance of eminent Indian scientists.
With the launch of CUSat, Punjab will become the first border state in India to have its own satellite in space. The launch of the university’s nanosatellite – CUSat will prove to be an important step for the country, as it will collect data related to border intrusion detection, agriculture, weather forecasting, natural disaster forecasting, which will be helpful in research and study of various problems in these areas. In addition, the GCS will help develop satellite research facilities and launch satellites in countries that do not have developed satellite technology.
Chancellor of Chandigarh University Shri S Satnam Singh Sandhu, scientists, faculty and students were present at the inauguration of the KCCRSST.
சண்டிகர் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் விண்வெளி அறிவியல் மற்றும் தொழில்நுட்பத்திற்கான கல்பனா சாவ்லா ஆராய்ச்சி மையத்தை பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சர் ராஜ்நாத் சிங் ஜனவரி 3, 2022 அன்று தொடங்கி வைத்தார். முப்படைகளையும் சேர்ந்த வீரர்களின் குழந்தைகளுக்கான ரூ.10 கோடி மதிப்பிலான கல்வி உதவித் தொகை திட்டத்தையும் அவர் தொடங்கி வைத்தார்.
நிகழ்ச்சியில் உரையாற்றிய திரு ராஜ்நாத் சிங், இந்த ஆராய்ச்சி மையம் நாட்டின் விண்வெளித் துறையை வலுப்படுத்துவதற்கான மிக முக்கிய நடவடிக்கை என்றார். இதுபோன்ற முயற்சிகளால்தான் இந்தியா வருங்கால தொழில்நுட்பங்களில் முன்னோடியாக திகழ முடியும் என்றும் தெரிவித்தார்.
இந்த மையம், இந்தியாவில் பிறந்த விண்வெளி வீராங்கனையான காலஞ்சென்ற கல்பனா சாவ்லாவைப் போன்று, வெற்றியின் புதிய உச்சத்தை எட்டும் என்றும் அவர் நம்பிக்கை தெரிவித்தார்.
நட்சத்திரங்களையும், கிரகங்களையும் எட்டுவதற்கான ஒளிவட்டம் உங்களது கண்களில் காணப்பட்டால்தான் 21 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டில் இந்தியாவின் எதிர்காலம் பாதுகாப்பானதாக இருக்க முடியும் என்று அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார். நீங்கள் அனைவரும் வெவ்வேறு கிரகங்கள் மற்றும் நட்சத்திரக் கூட்டங்களை ஆய்வு செய்வீர்களேயானால், உங்களில் ஒருவர் ஆர்யபட்டா, விக்ரம்சாராபாய், சதீஷ் தவான் மற்றும் கல்பனா சாவ்லா போன்று உருவாகலாம் என்றும் பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சர் தெரிவித்தார்.
இந்தியாவை அறிவாற்றல் மிக்க பொருளாதார நாடாக மாற்றுவதற்கு அரசு-தனியார் துறையினரிடையே நீண்டகால ஒத்துழைப்பு தேவை என்று குறிப்பிட்ட ராஜ்நாத் சிங், ஒட்டுமொத்த வளர்ச்சிக்கு எதிர்கால தொழில்நுட்ப வளர்ச்சி அவசியம் என்றும் தெரிவித்தார்.
–எஸ்.சதிஸ் சர்மா