“India has hopped on to a rapid economic recovery post COVID and it should not go back to the pre COVID times,” were the words of eminent scientist Dr RA Mashelkar while delivering the Amity Eminent Webinar organised by Amity University Gurugram. He stressed upon the importance of Decentralization, Decarburization, and Discipline and emphasised that they are the key to economic recovery.
While delivering his keynote address on ‘Reinventing and Re-imagining the Post-COVID-19 World’ he said that life in the post-COVID era will not be the same and the effects of the pandemic are expected to have a lasting impact. “The devastating impact of COVID-19 pandemic has caused inequality to rise exponentially, in just 3 months it has badly disrupted livelihood throwing 49 million people from poverty to extreme poverty. The 3Rs, Restart, Rebuild and Recover are much needed for new economic models,” he added in his keynote address.
Contemplating in great details on the post- COVID world, Dr Mashelkar further commented that we must adapt ourselves to a new way of life that includes social distancing. It shall become a new normal across the nation for hybrid workforce models for most industries and corporates that may be based on three days from home and two days of physical presence in the office. The skilled workforce shall also be able to perform multiple jobs and time-sharing shortly. Aatmasanyam, Self-discipline and Aatmavishwas should be an integral part of recovery from the COVID crisis, said DrMashelkar.
While admiring the clarion call given by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India for AatmaNirbhar Bharat Dr. Mashelkar said, “AatmaNirbbharta should not be taken as isolation rather should be inclusive of integration with the global supply chain”. He affirmed 5 pillars for developing AatmaNirbhar Bharat that includes buy, make, make to buy better, buy to make better and make it together. He cited the example of the 90s when India was denied SuperComputer for its space research programme but within no time India developed its own supercomputer PARAM. India’s scientist and technologist have the capabilities to face the challenges in the crisis and can surpass the imagination of the world concerning their scientific outcome.
Aatma Nirbhar Bharat idea must be taken in the right spirit, said Dr Mashelkar. “India is capable of doing it, it is doable and must be done.” He emphasized the three Ts – talent, technology and trust and further mentioned that great opportunities lie ahead for Indian Scientist and Technologist to take a leadership position as they did in making IT as ‘Indian Talent’ that surpassed the imagination of the advanced nations of the world. He also warned that the post COVID world should ensure that the marginalized do not become more marginalized. “The main aim of technology advancement should be creating both employment as well as a livelihood for over 80% of the population that lives in the villages of rural areas and also the betterment of the poor should not be avoided,” he added.
The revered scientist also recalled the time when he participated in the Higher Education Conclave organized by the Secretary-General of UN. At the forum he shared his thoughts about how digital transformation could provide several opportunities to bring a revolutionary change in both the quality and access of education including higher education. He even informed that among other thoughts that emerged at the UN Global Higher Education Conclave it was the view that beyond the 17 SDGs we now need the 18th SDG and that is of ‘access to digital infrastructure for one and all’.
When asked about Indian students who were desirous of going abroad for PG and PhDs but are unable to join their universities due to Pandemic, Dr Mashelkar said that one should look towards India and its great universities, and there is no dearth of such universities in India. Incidentally, Dr Mashelkar had all his education in India including his PhD from the Institute of Chemical Technology of VJTI Mumbai.
While fielding question on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science as to how they can benefit the poor, Dr Mashelkar replied that AI and Data Science will ensure more robust planning of Atmanirbhar Bharat which shall lead to minimum waste and improve the productivity of the rural economy. He stressed that we are currently sitting on a goldmine of opportunity to create a new wave of rural entrepreneurship powered by the innovative genius of young India.
