Kathmandu: The 11th academic assembly meeting of the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST)  was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister And Chancellor Of Ronast Girija Prasad Koirala here today.

The academic assembly approved the Auditing Report 2052/053 and entrusted the regulations refinement recommendations committee with the responsibility of studying the reports of RONAST and the management council, and present a report at the next academic assembly meeting.

At the meeting, Prime Minister and Ronast Chancellor Koirala said that since the country’s development is not possible without the development of science and technology, any development programmes in science and technology sector should be so designed that they help meet the target and priority set by the government depending on the Nepalese context.

Stressing the need to enhance the efficiency of RONAST, he said the expertise of skilled manpower and technicians available in the country itself should be utilized optimally to lead the country along the path of self reliance.

Timely updating of policies and timely completion of projects and programmes are the key to the effectiveness of any projects and programmes, he noted.

Stating that there is a close relationship between politicians and scientists in Asia, he said economic, educational and industrial advancement brings a change in the people’s perspective of politics thereby giving rise to a tendency to voting all parties, not only one, to power.

He cited the example of the elections held in Japan and other countries in this region to substantiate his statement.

Minister for Science and Technology and Pro-Chancellor of RONAST Surendra Prasad Chaudhari stressed the need to determine RONAST’s areas of work on the basis of national priority.

Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission Prithvi Raj Ligal said although the Ronast Act-2048 B.S. has already come out, it is functioning in accordance with the RONAST Regulations-2042 B.S.

This being the situation, he added, the regulations refinement recommendations committee is working on the preparation of a report to pave the way for improving the structure of RONAST by amending the regulations and formulating necessary rules.

RONAST Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr) Dayananda Bajracharya said initiatives will be taken to establish a Science Study Centre in the current fiscal year to encourage students to study science.

Efforts are under way to increase tea production by using organic fertilizers and joint research in matters concerning high altitude by RONAST and an Italian Research Institute is in the pipeline, Prof. Bajracharya said.

Academician and MP Dr Ramman Shrestha stressed the need for policy reforms to run RONAST as an effective and efficient institution.