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Ahmedabad: India's
space programme has a vital role in realising sustainable
development, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Saturday, asking the
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to give priority to tele-education,
tele-medicine and village resource centre services.
"The space programme has a vital role to play in making the concept
of sustainable development a reality," he said, stressing the
importance of space-based observation systems, development of newer
class of environment and monitoring sensors and study of
weather-related phenomena.
Addressing ISRO scientists linked countrywide from its facility
here, the prime minister said space-based applications are a very
potent means of bridging the divides in society through reducing the
cost of access to space. "This requires expediting the development
of heavy lift launchers, advanced propulsion systems, including the
cryogenic stage, and recoverable and reusable launch systems. We
should pay greater attention to the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle Programme," he said.
"Empowerment requires that we ensure space services are available to
all sections of society. Access to information should be easy. In
the years ahead ISRO should make a conscious effort to reach out to
beneficiaries and consumers of space products so that they can
extract maximum advantage from the technology that is available in
the country," he added.
He lauded the space infrastructure built by ISRO but stressed on the
need to master newer technologies for more sophisticated
communication satellites. "Satellite-based broadband internet
services could bring about a new technological revolution that
directly benefits rural and remote areas," he added.
The prime minister offered all support to ISRO to enable it to
promote scientific discoveries, and remain at the cutting edge of
technology.
"You will have the government's support in your quest to better
understand the solar system and universe, and in the continuing
discovery of space," he added.
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