Introduction

 

This Chapter includes Science and Technology and Training and Skill Development, which lay the foundation for a knowledge intensive high valued added economy. Kerala has significant accomplishments in the field of human and social development and this dividend can be enhanced through appropriate and focused policies and schemes to develop scientific breakthroughs in health care, agricultural production, plant pest management, animal husbandry, pisiculture, water management etc. It can lead to innovations and adaptation of appropriate technology in industry and infrastructure sectors such as logistics, renewable energy and world class design. The educated young in Kerala could benefit through high tech high value adding capacity building programmes. Skill development is required not only for the educated but for all of Kerala’s labour force so that productivity of labour increases and value of output remains high, even during times of labour shortages. Identification of different levels of skills required by agricultural, industrial and service sectors and ensuring that local labour is trained to match these requirements will create a skilled and highly employable manpower base in Kerala. The critical importance of capacity building in Kerala, the main accomplishments of efforts made during the 11th Plan (2007 -2012) and some of the major schemes introduced to tackle these challenges are brought out in this chapter.

 

Scientific Services & Research

 

Advancements in science and technology have driven developments in the different spheres of human activity. Scientific research and innovations affect the society in many ways and have revolutionized human life. It holds the power to bring about rapid growth and address the challenges facing mankind. Hence the sector has been accorded priority by successive Governments at the Centre and the State.

 

7.2 A new growth momentum has been witnessed in the Indian Science sector during the recent years. India’s science output has reached 3 per cent of global output in 2010. With respect to scientific publications, the relative position of India has improved from 15th in 2003 to 9th in 2010. During the last three years of the Eleventh Plan, the average growth rate of publications from India in scientific journals is about 14 per cent against the global average of 4.1 per cent for the same period. The share of scientific publications emanating from universities increased from 15 percent in 2003 to 31 percent in 2012. However we have to strive harder to achieve global standards in many areas. This is indicated by the fact that India’s share of top 1 percent publications is only 0.5 percent, as of 2006, less than other Asian countries like China and South Korea. India’s Innovation system ranking varies between 50 and 60 among the nations, and Inventiveness in our basic sciences as indicated by creation of Intellectual Property is low. Productivity gains from a hike in R&D spending could be huge for a country of the size of India, with a robust scientific infrastructure and a vast pool of trained scientific manpower. Many developed and emerging economies have been investing 2 per cent and more of their GDP in the R&D sector for quite some time now. And it is now well understood that India has to invest much more than 1% of GDP in R&D.

 

 

 

7.3 S&T in Kerala contributes to not only enhanced economic development through high value addition, but also balanced and sustainable growth by generating income and employment opportunities. R&D activities in the Government sphere are undertaken not only by dedicated institutions but also by the line Departments. Rural Industrialisation of the non-traditional kind and self employment were two critical areas identified in the Approach Paper of Kerala’s 11th Plan. Energy, water management, farm production, medical research, waste disposal, health care, and communications are some areas where S&T inputs and innovations can bring a significant change in Kerala’s growth as well as social well being.

 

7.4 The Annual Plan allotment to ‘Science, Technology & Environment’ in Kerala has increased from र 150.25 crore in 2007-08 to र 340.40 crore in 2011-12 (226.5 per cent increase). During 2012-13, the allocation is र 446.52 crore. A brief comparison of Year wise Plan Outlay and expenditure for the period from 2007-08 to 2011-12 is provided in Appendix 7.1

 

7.5 Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) and Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) receive Government funding under ‘Scientific Services and Research’ in Kerala.

7.6 The year wise Plan outlay and expenditure of KSCSTE and RCC during the 11th Plan is indicated in Table 7.1

 

Table 7.1

Year wise Plan Outlay and Expenditure

 

Annual Plan	KSCSTE		RCC		Total
	Plan Outlay	Plan Expenditure	Plan Outlay	Plan Expenditure	Plan Outlay	Plan Expenditure
2007-08	4253	1619 (38.06)	950	500 (52.63)	5203	2119 (40.72)
2008-09	4325	2620 ( 60.57)	1000	1000 (100)	5325	3620 (67.98)
2009-10	4390	4410 (100.4)	1115	1565 (140.3)	5505	5975 (108.5)
2010-11	4900	2058.32 (42)	2000	2400 (120)	6900	4458.32 (64.6)
2011-12	4900	3558.58 (72.6)	2500	2500 (100)	7400	6058.58 (81.8)
Total	22,768	14,265.9 (62.6)	7,565	7,965 (105.2)	30,333	22,230.9 (73.2)

*figures in the parantheses show percentage

Source: Budget (Programme Book) 2012-13; and CPMU, Government of Kerala

 

7.7 During 2012-13 the total plan Outlay to KSCSTE & RCC together was र 10020 lakhs. Funds allocated to KSCSTE and RCC during 2011-12 were mainly used for the following categories of expenditure:-

 

1) Research and Development

2) Expansion, Augmentation and Up gradation of Infrastructure

3) Promotion of Science & Scientific Research, Dissemination of Knowledge, Up gradation of Human Resource capabilities.

 

 

Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment

 

7.8 The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) was established in 2003 to promote excellence in science and technology through learning, research and development with the involvement of academia, industry, research organizations and to benefit the society through science and technology interventions with the involvement of user agencies and beneficiaries. Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) was constituted as an autonomous body of the Govt. of Kerala by restructuring the erstwhile State Committee on Science, Technology and Environment. The primary objective of the Council is to implement Science and Technology Programmes to enhance the socio- economic development as well as quality of life and environment of the State. The Council also intends to revamp and streamline the science and technology programmes to make them more responsive to the development needs of the State, and help in the transformation of Kerala as a knowledge economy.

 

7.9 There are six Research & Development Centers functioning under the umbrella of the Council viz., Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Centre for Water Resource Management and Development (CWRDM), Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), and Kerala School of Mathematics (KSM).The Council also supports three grant-in-aid institutions namely, Sophisticated Test and Instrumentation Centre (STIC), Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC) and Malabar Botanical Garden Society (MBGS). The council also undertakes co-ordinates and oversees many research programmes through the Universities and other R&D facilities established by the State and Central Governments.

 

Activities and Achievements of KSCSTE during 2011-12

• 101 Projects were selected for grants under the Science Research Scheme (SRS).

• 58 Projects sanctioned under the Student Projects Scheme.

• Model laboratories were established in two Government High Schools under the Sastraposhini Scheme.

• The 24th Kerala Science Congress was held at Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam from 29–31 January 2012. The special theme was ‘Climate Change: Plantation Crops and Spices of Kerala’.

• 190 Project proposals were received and 88 projects were sanctioned under the Scheme for Promotion of Young Talents In Science (SPYTiS)

• 4 Eminent scientists were awarded the KSCSTE Emeritus Scientist Scheme (ESS)

• 10 Projects were approved for financial assistance to carry out research under the Ecology and Environment Programme.

• Environment awareness campaigns, nature study trips, competitions, seminars, rally, teachers training, support to Eco clubs under the National Green Corps (NGC) programme.

• KSCSTE along with CWRDM is implementing the Programme on Water Quality for the state.

• KSCSTE along with CWRDM, Soil Survey Department and KFRI are implementing the Programme on Soil Quality monitoring for the state.

• KSCSTE prepared the State of Environment Report for Lakshadweep which was a project from the MoEF, Govt of India.

• Special functions to mark important days like World Environment Day, World Earth Day, International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer etc.

• 9 proposals were evaluated and 6 were provisionally approved under Engineering & Technology Programme (ETP)

• 7 out of the 19 proposals received were recommended for funding under the Rural Technology Programme (RTP)

• Revamping and updating content on the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) website.

• The Patent Information Centre (PIC) conducted 31 awareness programmes. 85 patent applications were received. Patent database search was conducted in all applications and reports sent to inventors. 7 patent applications from Govt Organisations / Institutions were forwarded for further patent filing procedures. 5 patent applications from the grass root innovators were filed through the Official Patent Attorney of KSCSTE.

• The Wetland Technical Unit co-ordinated the preparation of Management Action Plans(MAP) for the Sasthankotta and Vellayini lakes in the state. Ramsar Information sheets for Kavvayi wetland has also been prepared and forwarded.

• 60 candidates were offered KSCSTE Research Fellowship.

• 8 projects under the Young Investigators Programme in Biotechnology(YIBP), 1 Project under the Industry Linked Biotechnology Research Scheme(IBRS), 3 projects under the Biotechnology Innovation for Rural Development(BIRD) scheme and 2 projects under the Biotechnology Training and Workshop Scheme(BTW) were sanctioned by the Kerala Biotechnology Commission.

 

Activities and Achievements of R & D Centers under the Council

 

• Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI): Over 100 research / training projects were undertaken 2011-12 and upto August 2012. Of these, 62 projects are continuing as ongoing schemes and 46 have been completed or in various stages of completion.

 

• Kerala School of Mathematics (KSM): The Centre organized 3 workshops, an orientation programme and a School on Algebra Analysis & Topology. 4 Papers were published. An MoU has been signed with the Chennai Mathematical Institute(CMI) for collaborative research and academic programmes.

 

 

 

• National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC): the major activities and achievements of NATPAC during the reference period includes preparation of Price Index for Stage Carriage Operations in Kerala, Safety Audit of Public Transport systems in Kerala, Study on Gender issues of Mobility of Working women, Use of waste plastic in road construction, Feasibility study for setting up Monorail in Thiruvananthapuram, Resource mapping of road construction materials, preparation of material for training and awareness on Road Safety etc.

 

• Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI): During the reference period the institution has made allotments for 54 research projects.24 papers were published, 3 PhDs were awarded, 66 PhDs are being supervised, one patent was filed and 20 outreach programmes were conducted by the institute.

 

• Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS): the major activities and achievements of CESS during the reference period includes efforts to set up a modern Geo Fluids Research Laboratory, detailed geophysical survey in the special Security Zone in and around Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple, Shoreline Management Plan studies, Tsunami inundation mapping, project on soil piping, studies on coastal erosion and depletion of mineral content, preparation of cadastral level Coastal Regulation Zone maps, study of the build up of Urban Heat Islands in Kochi and Trivandrum city, Environmental Management Plan of Kayamkulam Thermal Plant, water conservation activities in Chadayamangalam Block, sand audit of rivers in Idukki District etc.

 

 

7.10 The relatively low level of expenditure of the Plan outlay in this sphere (Table 7.1) is an area of concern as scientific research could transform Kerala into a high value added economy.

 

Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

 

7.11 Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram (RCC), is an autonomous scientific institution sponsored jointly by the Government of Kerala and the Government of India. The centre was established in the year 1980 as a tertiary referral centre for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. RCC rated amongst the top three of the 28 Regional Cancer Centres in the country. It is the only comprehensive, dedicated centre for diagnosis, treatment and control of cancer in Kerala. There are almost 40,000 new cancer patients every year in the state and out of this more than one third come to RCC for treatment.

 

7.12 RCC has 17 divisions divided into Cancer Therapy divisions, Diagnostic divisions & Supportive divisions.

 

 

 

7.13 Major Achievements of RCC during the period 2011-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.14 Details of leading sites of Cancer and Patients treated during 2011-12 are provided in  Appendix 7.2

 

7.15 Science and Technology in the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17)

 

v The 12th Plan seeks to continue and consolidate the gains and momentum the sector has gained during the previous Plans. Efforts are to be directed to improve the relative position of India in the sphere of S&T in order to make India one of the major economies of the world over the next 20 years.

 

• Issues and challenges –

 

• Increase investment in R&D sector from 1% to 2% and more.

• Bring a paradigm shift in the S&T landscape. Evolve new delivery mechanisms for innovative deployment of technologies – business models for financing deployment of innovations.

• Ensuring that the corporate sector place a much larger role in building research capability.

 

• Approach

 

• Evolve a new science, technology and innovation policy to bring in more resources from both  public and private sector for R&D for socially and strategically relevant projects.

• Refocusing the efforts of the designated departments/agencies with national focus, organizational focus and leadership focus.

• Build technology partnerships with states through new models of technological solutions, design, development and delivery.

• Strengthening the interconnections of research competencies and resources.

• Initiate Grand Challenge Programmes and launch PAN – India Missions to address national  priorities in developmental sectors like energy and water.

• Encourage large Indian industries to establish globally bench marked R&D centres.

• Create new R&D institutions in trans-disciplinary science and engineering.

• Create inter university centres and inter institution centres in chosen areas.

• Create an independent institutional arrangement for Technology Assessment capability.

• Create new financial appraisal and audit mechanism and a new personnel policy based on best global practises.

• Partner with high value mega projects like Neutrino Observatory, 30 mtr telescope, square kilometre array, next generation synchrotrone etc.

• Enhance collaboration with reputed foreign universities/agencies.

• Leverage the spin-offs from defence, space and atomic energy for civilian benefits.

• Create and provide high performance computing facilities.

• Provide greater flexibility to the scientific community in R&D

• Increase the volume of research and ensure high quality.

 

• Specific Focus Areas

 

1. Enrichment of knowledge base

2. S&T Human Resource Development and University interaction

3. Aligning S&T to developmental needs.

4. Implementation of national missions – involving interdepartmental and inter ministerial collaborations in areas such as agriculture, water, energy, environment and health.

5. Mega science projects.

6. Strategies for transformational changes within S&T sector.

7. Performance measurement systems.

Source: Planning Commission, Government of India

 

7.16 Various R&D institutions under the Central and State Governments have developed a wide range of technologies. However their full potential remains untapped. This indicates the existence of major gaps in production, dissemination and application stages. Science along with R&D has to be demand driven and need based. The knowledge emerging from research must be able to provide solutions to many of the developmental concerns affecting Kerala’s society. Hence greater emphasis has to be placed on the delivery mechanisms in this sphere.

 

SECTION 2

Skill Development

 

7.17 Skill development is critical for achieving faster, sustainable and inclusive growth on the one hand and for providing decent employment opportunities to the growing young population on the other. Given the high social and human indicators, Kerala is in a position to meet the requirement of technically trained manpower not only for its growing economy but also of the advanced economies of the world. There is need for skilling and reskilling the persons entering the labour force to harness the demographic dividend that India enjoys. Even though the enrolment in technical higher education has grown, there is still non availability of requisite number of skilled persons. This challenge needs to be addressed at the All India level as well as the State Level in a mission mode. Skill enhancement also leads to increased wages for the people and a higher growth trajectory of value added for the economy. The National Skill Development Policy, 2009 is being implemented in Kerala as well.

 

7.18 As per 66th NSSO round 2009-10, 84 percent of the total workforce in India was in the unorganised sector and 92 percent were in informal employment.This indicates the need for training them so that they can get better employment. However, there is a shortage of Trainers. Training of trainers is a key component of the skill development. There is an acute shortage of trainers not only in the existing trades but also in the proposed new trades. There is an urgent need for improving the quality and size of trainer resource. Skill Upgradation of trainers, their quality assurance and improvement of their status in society are important to improve the quality of training.

 

 

 

7.19 The National Skill Development Policy has envisaged re-engineering of National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT) to play a greater role in the field of skill development. Now, NCVT is the apex advisory body looking after various functions like trade testing and certification, prescribing standards in respect of syllabi and so on for training provided by the ITIs, Government and Private. State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) is the Council corresponding to the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) to deal all matters relating vocational training at the level of the State. The State Council which is affiliated to the National Council advises the State Government in carrying out the training policy lay down by the National Council and co ordinates the Vocational Training Programme throughout the State. In Kerala, a 21 member State Council for Vocational Training has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister for Minister for Labour & Rehabilitation as per the G.O.(Rt) No.557/12/LBR dt 10.04.2012.

 

7.20 With the objective of expanding the outreach of the training facilities to school dropouts /and recognising the need for prior learning of workers in the unorganised sector, ‘Modular Employable Skill’ (MES) programme has been initiated by Ministry of Labour and Employment wherein short duration courses are provided to prospective trainees using both government and private infrastructure.

 

7.21 At present, 60 Government ITIs and three Government ITIs under SC Development Department are imparting training in 34 trades under SCVT with a sum total seating capacity of 4077 per year. Based on the guidelines of Directorate General of Employment & Training, New Delhi, action is in progress to register SCVT as a society under the Travancore – Cochin Literary, Scientific & Charitable Societies Registration Act 1955. Similarly action is in progress to introduce a new Act namely “Kerala State Vocational Training Regulation and Control Act 2012” to regulate and control the functioning of institutes which are conducting vocational training courses in the State.

 

7.22 The State Skill Development Mission has already been constituted under the section 25 of the Companies Act 1956. To address the problem of educated unemployment an action plan and project has been prepared in Colleges with the Higher Education Department. Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) is meant for those studying in various Colleges in the State. Additional Skill Enhancement Programme (ASEP) is for the students of ITIs and Registrants of Employment Exchanges is also envisaged. Along with this Modular Employable Skill Programme is also being run with the support of Vocational Training providers in the State.

 

7.23 Government has accorded in principle approval for the Preliminary Project Report of the State Skill Development Project. An empowered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary, was also constituted to implement the Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP). Government has approved an incentive Fee Linked Fee Structure for ASAP. Under the scheme, for students from BPL, SC/ST,other economically backward classes (OEBC) and physically disabled will be entitled for studying without any payment. However, if they do not successfully complete the course, they will have to repay the entire fee to Government within three years for Undergraduate students and five years for Plus II students. In the case of students from Non-BPL families, 75% of the fees will have to be paid by the student. On successful completion, they will be entitled for an incentive of the balance 25%.

 

7.24 Programme Managers for the proper management of the programme have been selected from the vocational Teachers of Government VHSE. Recruitment of 200 Programme Managers (on working arrangement basis from Government as well as from other professionally qualified persons) has been approved.The next batch of 75 Program managers will be put in a position by December 2012.Skill Development Executives to impart training on Communicative English and Information Technology were selected through the NAC test of NASSCOM and business interviews in which experts from industry also participated. For handling 1,00,000 students at its peak, there is a requirement of 3000 Skill Development Executives. Training has been launched in 37 institutions (Higher Secondary Schools selected by the Hon’ble MLAs from their respective constituencies) and also in Government Colleges. An amount of र 250.00 lakh is provided in the Budget 2012-13 for ASAP scheme. The scheme is to be implemented jointly by the General Education and Higher Education Department and equipped students currently enrolled in the Higher Secondary and under graduate courses in Arts and Science Colleges with industry/business relevant skills .The target is One Lakh of students in the Twelfth Five Year Plan. In the first phase the scheme will be open to students of Higher Secondary Schools/Vocational Higher Secondary and Government Colleges. In the second phase, which commences in the third year of the programme. Students studying in Private/Aided schools as well as Arts and Science Colleges will be allowed to become beneficiaries of ASAP.

 

7.25 An amount of Rs 1300.00 lakh was provided under the head of account 2230-03-001-96 Skill Development Programme to set up an apex institution “Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence” (KASE) to promote skill development initiatives during 2012-13. This will act as an apex body to set up world class institutes for skill development on PPP mode. Internationally recognized certification and accreditation will be provided by this Institute.KASE will be involved in the following areas viz.

 

(a) Skill Gap Analysis (b) Identification of Target Group (c) Training of mentors (d) Curriculum Design (e) Training (f) Testing and Certification (g) Database preparation and management to work in future as an online employable persons repository (h) Placement Services (i) Quality Control and Audit of Modules with industry participation etc

 

7.26 KASE (Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence) is going to establish a Construction Academy at Chavara on PPP mode. A multidimensional Skill Development Centre is also proposed to be set up with the help of Smart City at Cochin for the Hospitality Sector; initiatives have been started in the ITIs, Pallickathodu and Kalpetta as part of Centres of Excellence. Around 1000 students per year are currently being trained in these institutes. Also Vocational Training Providers registering for Skill Development Initiative schemes under Modular Employable Scheme are giving training to students in the hospitality sector.

 

7.27 An amount of र 1100.00 lakh is provided in the Budget 2012-13 for Skill Development Programme under Higher Education sector. The main objective of the project is to create employment opportunities for the unemployed youth and to enhance the skill sets of the populace with industry linkage. In 2012-13, 5000 students will be provided with training with a cost of र 10,000/- per student. The other components included in the project are equipping facilities in public sector institutions, upgrading facilities in VHSE schools with two resources centres per district, Training of Trainers in HSE, VSHSE and Colleges etc.

 

7.28 Women skill development would also be promoted through opening of new Regional Vocational Training Institutes which would enable them to earn decent employment and gain economic independence. There is also need to set up training institutes for SC/ST, minority and weaker sections of the society to facilitate their participation in the skill development for enhancing their employability. These institutes should be located close to where they live for better accessibility.

 

Outlook for Capacity Building in Kerala

 

7.29 Kerala has a wealth of human resources. However, the present system of education, as well as the conservative mind set of most of the people, prevent adequate exploration of new and productive avenues of employement, which are high value added and in great demand at the State, National and Global level. In fact, Kerala has the potential to become a knowledge hub, were not only can there be more effective linkage between basic science and all walks of life but creative and innovative technical applications can be developed and used to add value in Agriculture, Manufacturing and Service sectors. This calls for increasing opportunity and access to skill development for not only educated youth but for all sections of the population, including those who have retired from fulltime work. Greater awareness about global demand trends and a programme of continuous training and skill development to traditional artisans, fisherfolk, agriculturists, small entrepreneurs, and so on can not only improve their standard of living but can give them more fulfilling livelihood options.

 

 

 

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