Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD Lawmaker Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has demanded for continuation of UNESCO Kalinga prize, for which the Government of India has decided to stop funding.
Raising the important issue before the State Legislative Assembly during the ongoing Budget session, Shri Singh Deo said the prestigious international awards in the field of science, was started due to the efforts of legendary Biju Patnaik in 1952.
The prize has been awarded to several great scientists including seven Nobel laureates. It is not only proud for Odisha but also the entire country, he said.
Apart from the Kalinga Prize, there is such an international award from UNESCO, which was named after an Indian state’s name, he pointed out.
The Bolangir Lawmaker said the Central Government has decided to discontinue the award as it has started the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar or National Science Award.
“If we discontinue such an international award in view of the National Science Award, it will not be a good move for the country and also for Odisha and its people,” he noted.
Shri Singh Deo demanded for passing of an unanimous resolution in the House urging the Central Government to grant 40,000 pounds required for the Award.
If the Centre did not agree to pay the amount, let the Odisha government provide the required money and continue the award, he further demanded.
After completion of 50 years of the prize, in 2002, when late Atal Bihari Vajapayee was the Prime Minister, it was decided that the department of Science and Technology of Government of India, Odisha Government and Kalinga Foundation Trust will act as the partners/donors for the prize and share the expenses of the prize in the ratio of 6:4:4. However, recently, the Ministry of Science & Technology, government of India has decided to stop supporting this prize.