Lok Sabha Question No. 235 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: State Science and Technology Programme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Murasoli S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 235

## ANSWERED ON 27/11/2024

State Science and Technology Programme

235.   Shri Murasoli S:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY विज्ञान  और प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of the State Science & Technology Programme of the Union Government and the details thereof;
- (b) the  amount  of  funds  allocated  to  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu, district-wise under the scheme and the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposals to conduct National Level  Programmes  in  Thanjavur  constituency,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार)

(डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह)

- (a) The  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST),  under  its State Science and Technology Programme (SSTP), nurtures CentreState Science and Technology (S&T) cooperation through budgetary support to S&T Secretariat of 28 State/Union Territory (UT) Science &  Technology  Councils  including  the  state  of  Tamil  Nadu  for catalysing the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem at  State/UT  level  through  systemic  interventions  under  the  six components  of  the  STI  ecosystem.  These  components  include Research & Development; Institutional & Human Capacity Building; Innovation; Technology deployment for socio-economic development; Science communication and popularization; and State policies. The programme also extends support to Patent Information Centres (PIC) established at the State S&T Councils including at Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) to facilitate Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) related activities.

(b) Under SSTP, there is no district-specific allocation of funds. The details of funds sanctioned to TNSCST under SSTP during the last 2 years and the current financial year are given in the table below:

| S. No. Financial   | Funds sanctioned (In INR Lakhs)         | Funds sanctioned (In INR Lakhs)   | Funds sanctioned (In INR Lakhs)   |
|--------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Year               | Assistance to S&T Secretariat of TNSCST | PIC, TNSCST                       | Total                             |
| 1. 2022-23         | 93.99                                   | 54.25                             | 148.24                            |
| 2. 2023-24         | 92.49                                   | --                                | 92.49                             |
| 3. 2024-25 (till   | 106.24                                  | --                                | 106.24                            |
| Total              | 292.72                                  | 54.25                             | 346.97                            |

(c) to (d):   DST has sanctioned Rs. 658.86 Lakhs to  SASTRA University, Thanjavur and Rs. 30.17 Lakhs to Government College for Women, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur for strengthening R&D Infrastructure.  Additionally,  Rs.  86.95  Lakhs  were  provided  to  the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T), for research and development focused on millets. Furthermore, DST has sanctioned Rs. 20.00 Lakhs to TNSCST for celebrating National Mathematics Day and National Science Day in schools and colleges across the Tamil Nadu including Thanjavur district during the current financial year.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has funded 6 projects worth Rs. 896.01 Lakhs in areas such as Biotechnology Information System Network, Environment Biotechnology, Livestock, Animal and Plant  Biotechnology  and  Public  Health,  Food  and  Nutrition  in  the institutes in Thanjavur district. Additionally, DBT has sanctioned Rs. 249.62 Lakhs to two colleges viz. Bon Secours College for Women and A. Veeriya Vandayar Memorial Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous) in Thanjavur district under its Star College scheme.

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