101st Science Congress at JU

A nightmare to deal with 12,000 delegates likely to participate in the prestigious event

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 29: Though the administration of University of Jammu is busy arranging things for the prestigious 101th All India Science Congress, but it could be a big logistical exercise for the university authorities to handle nearly 12000 VIP delegates from across the country and abroad.

Official sources said that university authorities are making every effort to ensure that the delegates are provided with quality living space for which several hotels within the city could be hired for the purpose.

“Jammu University does not have space to accommodate all the delegates and this point has been highlighted several times during the meetings. The issue has been taken up with the government also”, said a source in University.

He further said that the city like Jammu where there are only few high-status hotels but efforts are being made to make the Science Congress a memorable event, keeping in view that its successful hosting is matter of prestige for the JU.

Talking to TNI, local secretary of the event, Prof Naresh Padha said the event was scheduled from February 3 to 7, 2014, for which the registration process will commence from August 15 to November 15 after the inauguration of the official website for the congress.

“We are trying to arrange accommodations around the diameter of 10 kilometer from the city for the delegates as department issued tenders for the purpose” he said.

He informed that it is expected that around 12,000 science experts from different parts of the country as well as abroad and around 200 VIPs, including Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and Governors are going to participate in this prestigious event.

“Though all the technical support will be provided by Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), Calcutta as we are arranging local hospitality, transportation, traffic regulation, medical facilities, up gradation and infrastructural facilities and security besides general cleanliness” he added.

The theme of the congress will be Innovations in Science and Technology for Inclusive Development. The Science Congress spread over five days, shall comprise of Inaugural ceremony, Science Collectors', Meet, Women Science Congress, Children Science Congress, Science Exhibition, a Book Exhibition and the Valedictory Session in 14 different sessions. Conferring of Young Scientist Award is another attraction of the event.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Indian Science Congress is usually held every year in the month of January but the forthcoming event has been scheduled in first week of February keeping in view weather conditions of Jammu.