Govt may rename Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan after Kalam

The government may rename the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan after former President APJ Abdul Kalam, with HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday stating: “I wish his name is associated with the programme as he had himself come forward to inaugurate the programme to encourage students to take up science, technology and mathematics...In coming years, we will try to encourage children to innovate through science and technology.” HRD Ministry officials said there <g data-gr-id="13">are</g> a set of laid-down procedures to name a programme after heads of states and measures would be initiated before renaming it. Kalam fell sick while addressing students of the Indian Institute of Management-Shillong on Monday and passed away in the evening. 

Addressing the students during the launch of Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan on July 9, Kalam had laid stress on developing four qualities of uniqueness such as “great aim, quest of knowledge, hard work, and perseverance”. He had also emphasised on attaching the highest value to science and the value of learning. Under Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, government schools will be mentored by institutes like IITs, IIMs, IISERs, central universities and reputed organisations through innovative programmes, student exchanges, demonstrations, student visits, etc., to develop a natural sense of passion towards learning of science and maths.