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10 Sep 2024 : The Indian Express

Editorial 1 : A win-win for academia, industry

Context: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation aims to make India a knowledge-driven economy

 

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

  • The operationalisation of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was a pivotal moment for India’s research ecosystem.
  • Established under the ANRF Act, 2023, the foundation aims to fund, coordinate, and promote research across India’s universities and colleges, which have long suffered from a lack of infrastructure, particularly in state-run institutions.
  • It is a crucial step in pushing India towards becoming a knowledge-driven society, following the model of research powerhouses like the US, Germany, South Korea, and Israel.

 

Aims and Objectives

  • One of the primary goals of ANRF is to address the infrastructure gap in state and central universities, where 95 per cent of students are enrolled but research capabilities are often non-existent.
  • It aims to facilitate timely disbursal of funds, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and foster industry-academia collaboration. 

 

Financing

  • With a total budget of Rs 50,000 crore over five years, the government’s contribution is Rs 14,000 crore, the rest must be raised from non-governmental sources like industry and philanthropists.
  • This approach mirrors the successful model in the US, where much of R&D funding comes from the private sector.

 

US like Ecosystem

  • Inspired by the US National Science Foundation (NSF), ANRF aims to create a similar ecosystem where high-risk, cutting-edge research can flourish within academic institutions.
  • In the US, once a proof-of-concept is established in academia, industries often step in to further develop the technology, creating a win-win scenario for both academia and industry.
  • Universities in the US have excellent technology transfer offices, which help faculty set up companies and consult for industries, and this is something ANRF aspires to replicate in India.
  • By creating these frameworks, ANRF can ensure that academia remains a hub for innovation while industry benefits from cutting-edge technology ready for commercialisation.

 

Benefits of ANRF

  • ANRF aligns well with the goals outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasised the need to make India a knowledge-based economy. 
  • ANRF seeks to support state universities and other underfunded institutions, thereby democratising access to quality research infrastructure.
  • ANRF will serve as a coordinating body, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and R&D efforts across sectors are aligned. This streamlined approach is expected to make India’s R&D landscape more cohesive and impactful.
  • Industry participation ensures that research aligns with market needs, while philanthropists can drive research in social or public good areas. 
  • By involving industry, India can address current R&D funding challenges, such as general financial rules (GFR) and cumbersome paperwork, which often delay the release of funds and stifle innovation.
  • Government’s recent announcement of a Rs 1 lakh-crore corpus for higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) research in Focused Research Organisations (FROs) and deep-tech startups complements ANRF’s efforts. Together, these two initiatives aim to cover the entire spectrum of research from basic to industry-driven development, creating a comprehensive R&D ecosystem.

 

Conclusion: ANRF is a step in the right direction. It is a major leap forward for India’s research capabilities, drawing inspiration from global best practices while addressing the unique challenges of India’s higher education and research system.

 

Way Forward: With the right execution, ANRF has the potential to position India as a knowledge-driven economy, paving the way for sustainable and inclusive development.

Editorial 2 : The audacity of a mission

Context: How Swachh Bharat Mission advanced progress on safety and dignity, health and economy

 

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

  • Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on 2 October 2014. It focused on the massive challenge of eliminating open defecation in the country.
  • SBM sought to change the behaviour of about 550 million Indians from their traditional habit of defecating in the open to using the over 100 million household toilets constructed for them by the government.
  • The recent release of the scientific report in the Nature journal on the Swachh Bharat Mission’s (SBM) impact on the reduction in infant and child mortality broadly coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the programme. 

 

Progress and achievement under SBM

  • It was announced by PM Modi on 15 Aug 2014, this was the first time in history that any head of government in the world was publicly committing to ending the scourge of open defecation in his country in a specified time frame. 
  • The programme took shape and, in the form of a jan andolan (mass movement), was successfully implemented in village after village, district after district and state after state.
  • Prime Minister fired the people’s imagination and inspired them to make the SBM a community and village-led initiative. 
  • The entire population of a village would passionately work to make their communities open defecation free (ODF) and when they achieved success, would take out a gaurav yatra (pride tour).
  • It was a matter of pride for a village community to declare itself ODF and soon a friendly competition broke out across the country between villages, districts and even states. Finally on October 2, 2019, all the states declared themselves ODF.

 

Benefits and Outcomes under SBM

  • The Nature report validates SBM’s significant health impact, asserting that the provision of toilets under the Mission saved the lives of 60,000–70,000 infants and children under the age of five on an annual basis.
  • Enhancement of the dignity and security of women and girls.
  • Economic benefit — a study conducted by UNICEF estimated that achievement of ODF status in a village resulted in each of its households saving approximately Rs 50,000 annually on account of avoided medical fees, time savings, etc.

 

Lessons of SBM – Four Ps

  • Political leadership
  • Public financing
  • Partnerships
  • People’s participation 

 

Conclusion: The four Ps are now globally recognised as vital for the success of most large, transformational developmental programmes. 
They are being applied in the sanitation sector around the world and leading to significant progress on Sustainable Development Goal number 6: Access to sanitation and water.