Scientists protest for 3 per cent research funds

Mumbai: Students, scientists and researchers from the field of science came together on Wednesday to conduct a silent protest in order to create awareness among the general public to encourage more ‘evidence-based’ learning. The protesters demanded an increase in the Centre’s budget allocation for science education to a minimum of 3 per cent and research, which is currently only 0.85 per cent.

More than 300 people took part in the rally, ‘March for Science’ from August Kranti Maidan to Girgaum Chowpatty. Breakthrough Science Society, a Kolkata-based community, introduced the March for Science in April this year to increase the current budget for Science and research by gathering the scientific community across the nation, with their first march demonstration in Kolkata.

“We are not here for any political motive.  We are protesting in order to encourage basic education for the people so they can take informed decision rather than pseudo-scientific decisions or actions,” said Arnab Bhattachary, professor, physics department, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.S

The students and researchers of the education institutes like IIT-Bombay and Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) face similar situation, as there have been constant fee hike and lack of funding for them, starting this academic year. Juhi Chatterjee, student, TISS said, “Student aids and funds for researches have been completely removed because of which we have to compromise a lot when it comes to research. Now-a-days our research don’t depend on ideas or concepts, it’s Son the budget we are allotted.”