West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced a Rs five crore grant to Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS) in Rajdanga, Kolkata, for setting up an innovation centre for young talents.
“In order to increase interest among children in science and scientific activities, we have decided to give Rs five crore to JBNSTS for setting up an innovation centre,” the Chief Minister informed. “The fund will be given in two phases by the education department,” she said after attending a meeting of the JBNSTS governing body, of which she is the president.
Founded in 1958, and enjoying the status of a status of a “special institution” granted by the state government, the JBNSTS has been working towards identifying young talents in the fields of science, engineering and medicine and nurture them into scientists and technologists.
On Tuesday, the Chief Minister attended the governing body meeting for nearly 25 minutes and promised members that she would attend such meetings at least once a year.
The State Government would also give another Rs 38 lakh annually to JBNSTS, an autonomous registered society promoted by the West Bengal government, for introducing scholarships for 100 students of Classes XI and XII a monthly stipend of Rs 500. She said the institute would get Rs 5 crore to build a five-storeyed building as part of its expansion plans.
The Chief Minister interacted with students from the districts of Nadia, Purulia and Bankura, who are attending a camp for research, library support and training.