Ex-VC JAU, Junagarh, to head NASF panel of which DG-ICAR is member
The government has constituted an empowered committee to run the National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF). According to the office order issued on May 30, the tenure of the 10-member committee is three years
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The government has constituted an empowered committee to run the National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF). According to the office order issued on May 30, the tenure of the 10-member committee is three years.
However, the structure of the committee has not gone down well with many senior agricultural scientists. They pointed out that the NASF is a body under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), but the name of its Director General has been relegated to the eighth position. "This raises questions on the composition of the committee," a senior agricultural scientist told the Rural Voice, requesting anonymity.
Former Vice Chancellor of Gujarat-based Junagadh Agricultural University, Dr. A.R. Pathak has been made its chairman. Not only this, the first five names included in the list are former office bearers of various institutions.
Former Vice Chancellor of Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University Dr. Sudhir Kumar Sopori, Former Director of ICAR-IVRI Izatnagar Dr. R.K. Singh, former Vice Chancellor of VNMKV, Parbhani, Dr. B.B. Venkateshwarulu and former advisor to the Planning Commission, Dr. V.V. Sadmate have been accommodated in the list.
Apart from them, representative of Department of Biotechnology, representative of CSIR, Secretary of Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR Dr. Himanshu Pathak and AS&AF of ICAR have been made members. The Fund's ADG Dr. Jitendra Kumar is its convener.
According to the office order issued under the signature of Dr. Kumar, the committee has been empowered to amend the rules and procedures as per requirement. The committee will also have the right to decide as to what should be the policy for the fund and what should be its priorities.
The responsibility of approving various research projects and monitoring old projects has been given to it.
The old name of the fund was National Fund for Basic, Strategic and Frontier Application Research in Agriculture. It was renamed as National Agricultural Science Fund during the 12th Five Year Plan.
The objective of this fund is to promote research and culture of research in the agriculture sector, strengthen the National Agricultural Research System through partnerships, help policy makers and organise workshops and seminars etc. to spread awareness related to agricultural science among the people.
The Terms of Reference of the Empowered Committee are to make need-based modifications in Rules and Procedures while adhering to guidelines outlined in EFC document, to determine policy and priorities for the fund, to approve research projects, to monitor the overall progress and suggest on-course corrections.
