PM proposes knowledge commission

Wednesday, 12 January 2005, 20:30 IST
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KOLKATA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday proposed the setting up of a national knowledge commission to increase the competitiveness of domestic industry in the years ahead. Singh said the new commission would develop new concepts for higher education and boost research and development activities in science and technology institutions. "I have decided to create a national knowledge commission to strengthen the roots and sinews of our capacity building so that we are better prepared for the challenges of the 21st century," Singh said. The prime minister was addressing the inaugural session of the Partnership Summit 2005 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here. "This commission would be a catalyst in setting ambitious knowledge targets and enabling agencies to attain them," said Singh. He said the agenda of commission with cover five areas, which include increasing access to knowledge for public benefit, developing new concepts of higher education, and rejuvenating science and technology. Other areas are enabling application of knowledge by industry to enhance manufacturing competitiveness, and encouraging intensive use of knowledge-based services by government to empower citizens. "We must make our universities world class and centres of innovation. Our science laboratories must be repositioned for creation of knowledge necessary to develop new products and services," said Singh. "We must orient our industries to create application of new knowledge to increase productivity, gain competitive advantage and improve conditions of people engaged in work. "We must improve services provided by government through the use of information technology. Above all, we must become not merely a knowledge producing society but a knowledge-sharing society." The prime minister urged industry to work with the proposed knowledge commission to meet the challenges of globalisation.
Source: IANS
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