From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Feb 28: The satellite design and launching project by the Government School Students, has been named after Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar as Puneeth Rajkumar Student Satellite Project, who died a few months back and will be launched by September 2022.
Presiding over a function held at the government pre-university college at 18th cross, Malleswaram in Bengaluru on the occasion of National Science Day and Inauguration of Karnataka Government School Students’ Satellite Project (KGS3Sat), Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, Higher Education and Minister for Science and Technology, made this announcement on Monday.
On the occasion, MoU inked between Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) and Indian Technological Congress Association (ITCA) with regard to implementation of the project was exchanged.
This is one of the 75 satellites to be launched in the country to celebrate 75 years of independence.
The ground station of the project will be set up at the premises of the college and 100 students of 20 government schools have been selected based on performances in various competitions and tests, he stated.
Further, he said the proposed satellite will weigh 1.5 KGs
A few years back, any satellite would have weighed a minimum of 50 KGs and the project would have cost about Rs 50 to 60 crore. But the development of technology has made it possible to reduce the satellite to weigh just 1.5 KG and project cost has been reduced to Rs. 1.90 crore, Dr Narayan said.
Introductory programmes through Online and Offline, hands-on learning and tutorial models in both Kannada and English languages will be part of this project, he said.
In addition, the minister said web links of required content will be provided to students and classes related this will commence from April 22.
Knowledge of satellite payload, introduction to nanosatellites, visiting scientific institutions located in the city of Bengaluru, visiting Sriharikota during the launch of the satellite, interaction with scientists, training at the ground station, publication of required books and other activities will be part of Rs 1.90 crore project.
In his inaugural speech, former Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, MP, Bengaluru North, said the ways for social empowerment lies in scientific research and innovations.
He said curiosity should be created among students right from the beginning of their early stages and it needs to be sustained constantly.
Prof S Ayyappan, Padmasri awardee and Chairman, Karnataka Science and Technological Academy, said at present in the country there are not more than 5 lakh researchers in the entire country.
The number of researchers in the country is very low compared to the developed countries and their numbers needs a drastic increase to take the country on the path of progress.
He also felt there is a need to find an effective solution to check the wastage of agricultural produce in the country.
On this occasion, a handbook on satellite projects was released. The distribution of science experiment kits for government schools was also launched. The dignitaries and scientists also had a glimpse of scientific models which were exhibited as part of the event.
Dr Navakanta Bhat, Chairperson, State Vision Group for nanotechnology, Prof HS Nagaraju, Dr Hemanta Kumar, Ashok Rayachuru, Basavaraju, Soumya Vaid were among the present.
Helping students from Ukraine to continue studies
The Higher Education Minister said the State Government is trying to make suitable arrangements to help the students returning from Ukraine to continue their studies in consultation with the Centre.
Speaking to media representatives, he said there was no problem for students returning from Ukraine to continue their degree or engineering studies. However, there were certain limitations in helping the students to continue their medical studies.
Dr Narayan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai were very much concerned about the plight of the students returning from Ukraine and assured that some arrangements will be made to help them in consultation with the Centre.
'Congress padayatra nothing but drama'
Dr Narayan criticised the State Congress party’s Mekedatu padayatra as nothing but a political drama. "KPCC Chief DK Shivakumar is trying to project himself as the prospective chief minister by sidelining Congress opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah through the padayatra,’’ he alleged.
The Minister wanted to know what Shivakumar was doing when he was elected as MLA seven times and his brother DK Suresh as MP and why they suddenly woke up on Mekedatu issue now. "The Congress party and its leaders are not really bothered about the people and their padayatra will achieve nothing except serve as walking exercise and inconvenience people,’’ he added.
It is the BJP which can implement the Mekedatu project, he said and wanted to know why the Congress party could not convince its ally DMK in Tamil Nadu.