Ministry of Steel to set up “Steel Research & Technology Mission of India”

Ministry of Steel to set up “Steel Research & Technology Mission of India”

Ministry of Steel will set up a “Steel Research & Technology Mission of India” (SRTMI) to promote collaborative research programmes in steel sector. The Union Minister of Steel, Mines, Labour & Employment, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar accorded in-principle approval for setting up SRTMI, in a meeting with senior Ministry officials on October 20, 2014. Shri Tomar remarked that SRTMI will be steel industry’s contribution to ‘Make in India, Made in India’ initiative. Investment on Research & Development in the steel sector must increase from present level of 0.2-0.3 % of turnover to international benchmark of 1-2 % of turnover by the leading companies, he added. The conceptualization of SRTMI was done by a high level task force set up by the Ministry of Steel. The task force had recommended that SRTMI is to be formed as a registered society in close cooperation amongst the steel companies, Ministry of Steel, academia and relevant institutions in the country. SRTMI will be governed by a Governing Board of CEOs of steel and associated companies, domain experts of national and international repute, and one nominee from Ministry of Steel. There will be an Oversight Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Steel) to periodically assess the functioning & performance of SRTMI. SRTMI will carry out R&D in priority areas of national importance covering best usage of available raw materials & conservation of natural resources, optimum energy conservation & minimum emissions leading to innovations and in-house development of design, engineering & manufacturing facilities of key steel plant equipment. The task force further proposed that SAIL, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, JSPL, Essar Steel, RINL, NMDC & MECON will be the initial participating companies who will sign MOU besides Ministry of Steel. The Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Shri Rakesh Singh, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Shri Vinod Kumar Thakral and other senior government officials were present on the occasion. Dr. Jitendra Singh announces hike in fellowship amount to Research Scientists The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced over 50% hike in the fellowship amount received by various categories of young Research scientists, here today. This land mark decision, responding to a long standing demand by around one lakh science Research Scholars and Associates working across the country, is taken by the Department of Science & Technology under his Ministry, the Minister added. Addressing a press conference, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that the fellowship amount for Research Associate-III had been hiked from Rs.24000 to Rs.46000, Research Associate-II from Rs.23000 to Rs.42000, Research Associate-I from Rs.22000 to Rs.38000, Senior Research Fellow from Rs.18000 to Rs.30000 and Junior Research Fellow from Rs.16000 to Rs.25000 per month respectively. In addition, the House Rent Allowance (HRA) as well as the Medical benefits will continue to be available to all the categories of Research Scholars as per the Central Government norms or the norms of host institutions which ever applicable. Entitlement for travel by AC-2 tier or AC-3 tier depending upon the category of Research Fellow / Research Associate will also be available. In addition, maternity leave for women will also be available to all categories of Research Fellows. Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that as soon as he took over as Minister for Science & Technology four months back, the Research scholars had approached him with this demand, in response to which he had assured them that it is genuine and, being himself from the scientific fraternity, he could very well understand that a hike was richly deserved by Research Scholars and the Research Associates who devoted their entire time and energy to the growth of science in the country. Soon after, he said, he held a series of meetings with the Secretary (S&T) and other Departments which was followed by inter-ministerial meetings with the Ministry of Finance for budgetary implications. Dr. Jitendra Singh thanked the Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley for having accepted the demand put up by his Ministry. Each Ministry and agency can now use the guidelines to make requisite changes over their specific fellowship programmes, he added. Dr. Jitendra Singh further suggested that a hike in the fellowship amount should be undertaken periodically after due assessment and for this purpose he directed his Science & Technology Secretary to put in place a proper mechanism. In addition, Dr. Jitendra Singh also issued directions to the Science & Technology Ministry to put in place a web-based fellowship assessment and disbursement mechanism so that delays in disbursement of fellowship amount could be avoided.