National Seminar on Self reliance in neuclear technology

July 2006 - December 2006 Index

National Seminar on Self reliance in neuclear technology

A National Seminar on Self Reliance in Nuclear Technology was held at Mumbai on 9^th & 10^th October 2006. The seminar was conducted by National Federation of Atomic Energy Employees (NFAEE) and its affiliated unions &Associations of Mumbai based units of Departments of Atomic Energy. Seminar was attended by 110 delegates represent 15 DAE Employees Assn and Atomic Energy Retirees Welfare Assn, Indian Women’s Scientists Assn and EEFI.

The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. S. Chatterjee, Sr. Scientist, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. In the inaugural speech Dr. Chatterjee opined that the Indo-U.S. deal, announced ion July 2005 has certain elements of being a kind of structural readjustment programme, in the area of Science & Technology. Further he pointed out that it appears that apart from active as a brake on Indian S&T development this deal may help the US to gain experience on many areas of S &T and the way this deal was introduced may also serve as a ‘model’ for the introduction of similar deals in other areas.

Prominent personalities such as T. Jayaraman, Sr. Scientist, Indian Institute of Mathematics, Prabir Purkayastha , Delhi Science Forum. Dr. M.K. Pandhe, President, CITU, H. Mahadevan, Asst. Secretary General AITUC, A. Sathasivam, President NFAEE, B.S. Meel, General Secretary, EEFI, Ragavendra, Editor of the Journal of Atomic Energy Retirees Welfare Association etc were presented their views on various aspects of nuclear technology, Energy, Indo-US Nuclear Deal etc.

Dr. M.R. Srinivasan, former Chairman Atomic Energy Commission & Member, AEC, though agreed to participate in the seminar could not attend, but send a paper which was read in the seminar. In his paper Dr. Srinivasan urge the members of the American Senate to take a broad and enlightened view on the question of civil nuclear Cooperation. He also narrated various points where the draft Senate Bill gone back from the agreement of July 2005.

Similarly Dr. M.R. Iyer, Retired Head RSSD BARC & former safeguard Inspector IAEA too could not attend the seminar but sent his paper on safe guard implications of the Indo-US Nuclear agreement. In his paper Dr.Iyer pointed out that “we may gain a few imported nuclear power stations and fuel for the Indian Power stations …. Will not touch any other part of the nuclear fuel cycles such as fuel reprocessing which may be of dual use. He further opined that the embargo for our research centers which are declared out of binds for safeguards would continue even more stringently with possible IAEA inspection to ensure that not only the material but the technology received through civilian cooperation are not leaked into non safeguarded installations.

Earlier, in the introduction of the seminar Jayaraj K.V, Secretary General NFAEF and the Convener of the organizing committee said the reason to organise such a seminar. As the senior scientists of the country like Dr. H.N. Sethna, Dr. P.K. Iyengar, Dr. M.R. Srinivasan, Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan etc. openly wrote to Members of Parliament on Indo-US Nuclear treaty and this naturally developed curiosity among the employees of the department. To know the factual position, NFAEE & affiliated decided to organise the seminar.

P.M. Worlikar, President FW&S Union BARC and Chairman of organizing Committee had given welcome speech and K.G. Bilaskar, Gen. Secretary DPS DAE Emp. Assn offered vote of thanks.


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