1100 meritorious students on study tour

Bhopal, Jan 28: As many as 1100 meritorious students from all districts of Madhya Pradesh left here on a study tour by a special train this morning. Under the guidance and leadership of over one hundred teachers these students would visit various reputed institutions at Pune, Banglore and Kanyakumari to see science research development works and also meet eminent scientists there. This largest ever study tour of India so far has been organized by MP Council of Science and Technology under Excellence Mission. The students would return on February 6.

The Minister for Education Laxaman Singh Gaud hosted a dinner to these students drawn from all districts of Madhya Pradesh at Narmada Club here last night. He held a dialogue with the students and answered their queries. The Director General of MP Council of Science and Technology Mahesh Sharma was also present on the occasion. The Education Minister Gaud exhorted the students to make the maximum of the study tour to become leading scientists of the country. He termed the tour as a laudable initiative to acquaint the students with the latest in science. The Minister said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan the state government is creating records in the field of development. Novel initiatives have been taken to improve education in the state as a result of which Madhya Pradesh would become a fully educated state soon. He also advised the students to take maximum benefit of the career guidance camps organized in schools and colleges for them.

Mahesh Sharma described the study tour as historic saying that not only India but in the world such a large study tour has never been organized. Its aim is to give exposure to science students. There is a plan to take meritorious students to other countries also. During the tour in Pune the students would visit National Chemical Laboratory, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Bhartiya Agro Industries Foundation and ETC Research Laboratory. They would also meet eminent scientists Prof. Jayant Narlikar and Vijay Bhatkar there.

In Banglore the students would visit National Centre for Biological Sciences, Centre for Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, ISRO, Visvesaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Indian Institute of Science and Hindustan Aeronautics. There they would meet eminent scientists Dr G Madhavan Nair, Prof. CNR Rao, Prof P Balram, Prof.KI Vasu and Dr Jagdev Singh. In Kanyakumari the students would visit Vivekanand Kendra-Natural Resources Development Project. They would see the various spiritual and social activities being carried out by the Kendra and meet G Vasudev there.