Our Bureau

New Delhi, May 15

The Government on Thursday decided to set up a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), with a view to enhance the level of basic research and impart autonomy and flexibility in shaping basic research programmes and delivery of funds to researchers.

Briefing newspersons after a meeting of the Cabinet, the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, said the Board will be a high-level empowered body with necessary administrative and financial autonomy chaired by the Secretary of Department of Science and Technology.

On the policy matters it will receive necessary guidance from an oversight committee chaired by a scientist of international repute.

The need for having such a body was felt due to rapid changes in the advanced basic scientific research at the global level with increasing competition every day. A Science and Engineering Research Bill will be introduced in Parliament and the Board will be constituted under the Act.

The Cabinet also approved a Planning Commission proposal to set up a co-ordinated mechanism for skill development encompassing different public and private initiatives, Mr Chidambaram said.

While the Ministries and various departments would continue to be responsible for the skill development programmes under them, the National Skill Development Corporation will take care of the skill development in the private sector.

Mr Chidambaram said co-ordinated action would aim at creating a pool of skilled personnel in appropriate numbers with adequate skills, in line with the employment requirements across the country. Special emphasis would be laid on 21 high-growth high-employment sectors, including automobile, banking, insurance, construction, pharmaceuticals, food processing, textile and tourism.

The Finance Minister said that Rs 1,000 crore has been provided for the initiative and the amount would eventually go up to Rs 15,000 crore.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has decided to relax the norms under the Backward Regions Grant Funds (BRGF) for Jharkhand, a move which will enable the State to implement certain programmes.

The relaxation would apply till the time the State constituted the panchayats.

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