NEW DELHI: Can yoga and meditation help the world in its fight against Covid-19? India’s department of science & technology said on Sunday it has called for research to “scientifically investigate” whether appropriate intervention through yoga and meditation can fight against novel coronavirus.
Celebrating 49th foundation day of the department, health and science & technology minister Harsh Vardhan urged the Indian scientific community to come out with innovative solutions to fight the pandemic keeping in mind timeliness and urgency of the situation, and informed them that his ministry “would soon move a cabinet note on Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) to encourage reaching out benefits of science to people.”
Under SSR, it would be the responsibility of scientific institutions and grantees of projects to directly bring the benefits of innovations to people at grassroots level as part of their mandatory obligations.
Emphasising that how simple steps like wearing masks and washing hands can go a long way to protect people, Vardhan expressed his unhappiness that many directors and top scientists of various institutions were not wearing masks on the occasion.
Addressing them through video conference, the minister told them that all of the scientists in his conference room in Delhi were wearing masks, but “none of you on the other side is wearing mask”. He said it was a kind of worry for him as such acts of scientists would send a wrong message to people at the time when wearing masks is of utmost necessity to save people.
He, however, praised the scientists for their works during this crisis situation and noted how every institution has risen to the occasion and contributed through various scientific solutions for different aspects of the Covid-19 crisis — be it diagnostic kits, new types of masks or their contributions towards repurposing of drugs and researches to find out vaccines.
Referring to role of yoga and meditation, Ashutosh Sharma, secretary, department of science & technology (DST), noted about a programme - science and technology of yoga and meditation (SATYAM) - which sought research proposals from scientists and experienced practitioners of yoga and meditation by May 31.
Sharma noted that the idea behind this call is to “scientifically investigate” whether it would help in improving immunity and respiratory system, and in dealing with stress, anxiety and depression related issues due to isolation, uncertainty and disruption in normal life during the current situation and tough days ahead.
After receiving proposals, the department may go for a pilot study by a team of scientists, clinicians and practitioners using scientific tools for “validation or falsification”.
“The aim of this special call is to provide assistance to our society in today’s critical condition, arises due to Covid-19,” said the DST in its call under SATYAM.
On the occasion, the department also enlisted number of innovations/solutions which Indian scientific institutions have come out with to help frontline staff in fight against spread of Covid-19.
On proposed note on the SSR, Vardhan while addressing the scientists, said, “The national policy on Scientific Social Responsibility which is being worked out by the DST should be an embodiment of the principles of responsible innovation and social entrepreneurship which the department has imbibed over its 49-year journey.”
He said, “I am sure the document will inspire all the grantees of projects to reach out to stakeholders of science and society at large with all the tools, knowledge, manpower and infrastructure of S&T in the academia and R&D labs by choosing of one or more activities: scientific infrastructure sharing; mentoring/training of college/ university faculty; training on high end scientific skills and research; student internships; fostering research culture and many more.”
The minister on the occasion also launched “COVID KATHA” - a multimedia guide on the pandemic. As the DST enters 50th years, the golden jubilee celebrations were launched, initiating myriad activities in different parts of the country throughout the year.
Senior scientists and officials from different wings of the DST — National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development (SEED) — and statutory bodies such as Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Technology Development Board (TDB) and the Survey of India (SoI) spoke about different initiatives being taken to tackle the pandemic.
Directors of autonomous Institutions like the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram; International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru; National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad and S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata spoke about the preparations they have made to brace for the crisis.
Celebrating 49th foundation day of the department, health and science & technology minister Harsh Vardhan urged the Indian scientific community to come out with innovative solutions to fight the pandemic keeping in mind timeliness and urgency of the situation, and informed them that his ministry “would soon move a cabinet note on Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) to encourage reaching out benefits of science to people.”
Under SSR, it would be the responsibility of scientific institutions and grantees of projects to directly bring the benefits of innovations to people at grassroots level as part of their mandatory obligations.
Emphasising that how simple steps like wearing masks and washing hands can go a long way to protect people, Vardhan expressed his unhappiness that many directors and top scientists of various institutions were not wearing masks on the occasion.
Addressing them through video conference, the minister told them that all of the scientists in his conference room in Delhi were wearing masks, but “none of you on the other side is wearing mask”. He said it was a kind of worry for him as such acts of scientists would send a wrong message to people at the time when wearing masks is of utmost necessity to save people.
He, however, praised the scientists for their works during this crisis situation and noted how every institution has risen to the occasion and contributed through various scientific solutions for different aspects of the Covid-19 crisis — be it diagnostic kits, new types of masks or their contributions towards repurposing of drugs and researches to find out vaccines.
Referring to role of yoga and meditation, Ashutosh Sharma, secretary, department of science & technology (DST), noted about a programme - science and technology of yoga and meditation (SATYAM) - which sought research proposals from scientists and experienced practitioners of yoga and meditation by May 31.
Sharma noted that the idea behind this call is to “scientifically investigate” whether it would help in improving immunity and respiratory system, and in dealing with stress, anxiety and depression related issues due to isolation, uncertainty and disruption in normal life during the current situation and tough days ahead.
After receiving proposals, the department may go for a pilot study by a team of scientists, clinicians and practitioners using scientific tools for “validation or falsification”.
“The aim of this special call is to provide assistance to our society in today’s critical condition, arises due to Covid-19,” said the DST in its call under SATYAM.
On the occasion, the department also enlisted number of innovations/solutions which Indian scientific institutions have come out with to help frontline staff in fight against spread of Covid-19.
On proposed note on the SSR, Vardhan while addressing the scientists, said, “The national policy on Scientific Social Responsibility which is being worked out by the DST should be an embodiment of the principles of responsible innovation and social entrepreneurship which the department has imbibed over its 49-year journey.”
He said, “I am sure the document will inspire all the grantees of projects to reach out to stakeholders of science and society at large with all the tools, knowledge, manpower and infrastructure of S&T in the academia and R&D labs by choosing of one or more activities: scientific infrastructure sharing; mentoring/training of college/ university faculty; training on high end scientific skills and research; student internships; fostering research culture and many more.”
The minister on the occasion also launched “COVID KATHA” - a multimedia guide on the pandemic. As the DST enters 50th years, the golden jubilee celebrations were launched, initiating myriad activities in different parts of the country throughout the year.
Senior scientists and officials from different wings of the DST — National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development (SEED) — and statutory bodies such as Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Technology Development Board (TDB) and the Survey of India (SoI) spoke about different initiatives being taken to tackle the pandemic.
Directors of autonomous Institutions like the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram; International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru; National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad and S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata spoke about the preparations they have made to brace for the crisis.
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