By Charles.S.Perera

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the year 2005 theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Minister of Science and Technology Professor Tissa Vitarana ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had devised a plan to take Science and Technology to the people of the backward villages, byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  organizing Vidatha Resourse CentresƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is a commendable ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ plan , ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a bold step ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ taken by the Minister ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Professor Tissa Vitarana to make the villagers aware of the possibilities of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ application of modern Science and Technology in their villages to uplift their life style by using correct science and technological applications ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to improve their income by turning ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ out saleableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  commodities from what grows in their gardens, or turn out items of utility from other simple raw material easily available in their villages.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It has become ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a boon for those hitherto ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ neglected section of our society-the Villagers that make up a considerableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  percentage of our population.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In order to implement this very important and immensely beneficial plan, the Minister recruitedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  about 350 of the then unemployed Science Graduates as Science and Technology Officers.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But unfortunately the Minister has not considered ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the importance of motivatingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  these young graduatesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to apply themselves to make the plan -the brain child of the Minister,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  handed over to them a success.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Nevertheless, despite lot of difficulties they encountered the young graduates ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  done aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  remarkable amount of work not only to make the plan a success but also to make itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ profitable ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ occupation for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  villagers.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I had the privilege to attend an Educational and Sales Exposition ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the activities of the Science and Technology Officers of the Central Province at the District Secretariat ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Premises inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Kandy .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It presented to the public how taking Science and Technology to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the villagers had made the villagersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  alive to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Science and TechnologyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with the acquired knowledge ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they have been able toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  make saleable items fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  articles found in their village environment.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There were dehydrated vegetables, jack and bread fruits, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sliced manioc, labeled and packed into neat packets. There wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  also items of foodƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in differ ent sizes of bottles neatly labeled.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The dehydration machines had been developed at NERD and offered through ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Vidatha Resource Centers to the villager either to be purchased or make use of them. There were also other machines developed byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  NERD, such as rice cookers, and portable ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-fire holdersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ exhibited.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  packeted ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-kitulƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ jaggery and honey in bottles of convenient sizes. There were home made yogurt. They were all reasonably priced, and there was a brisk sale of the exposed articles.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Besides food items, there were items made out of leather and wood, and clay. They were being sold by the producers themselves who were ordinary men and women from villages.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was very impressive and some of the people I spoke to said thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  some of them had been without employment, and the Science and Technology Officers were for them a god sendƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  because they provided them with the technical know- how to turn out different itemsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  found sales outlets.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They said that they now make a living out of what they have learnt, thanks to these young Officers.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ After speaking to the villagers and to the active youngƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Science and Technology Officers , as an outsider who saw and recognizedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the laudableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  contributionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of these Science and Technology Officers, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I wonderedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  whether these youngƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Officers ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sufficiently compensatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and provided with incentives to continue to give of their best to the work entrusted to them to make it a greater success ?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They do not really complain, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ butƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  they sayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  that though they are interested in the work they do,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  as they see with great satisfaction ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the fruits of their endeavour, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  helping at least some of the villagers to better their living conditions by actually learning, and putting into effect a useful industry.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But yet they regret that they are not givenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the necessary incentive and encouragement ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ despite the hard work they put in, to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ workƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  as any other government servant, looking forward ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to improve their professional situation. They regretfully ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ observe that their whole hearted application in doing a service to the people is not recognized, and that they are not providedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  professional compensation by way of promotions, and more involvement ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as government servants.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They were recruited to implementƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the scheme started byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Professor ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tissa Vitharana the Minister of Science and Technology, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to take science and technology to the village. But the Minister may ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be satisfied that the plan he had prepared ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ really helps the people at grass-root level.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And that the young Graduates he has recruited have been able to make his plan a reality.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yet he leaves it at that without taking into consideration the future of these young graduates ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who put into ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ effect ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ this considerably valuable program.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They are government servants by name.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They have no hope ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  any sort of promotion, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and are even prohibited from sitting for the Administrative Service Examination, due to a protest by the General Clerical Service.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is an exploitation of the youthful graduates, holding them ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-under threatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ either ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to do whatever they are asked to do under whatever condition, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lest they be without employment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  To add insult to injury the Minister has appointedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  another group of persons to coordinate the services ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  theseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Science and Technology Officers.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ironically these CoordinatorsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are not even Graduates, and have no knowledge or experience in the type of work done by the Science and Technology Officers. Their only qualification is thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  they belong to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Political Party of the Minister.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is an abuse of Ministerial position ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and violation of the human right of dignity of workƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of these Science and Technology Officers.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  If Coordinators are necessary they should be recruited ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from among the Science and Technology Officers ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ according to their seniority orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  efficiency of the performance of their duties.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But the explanation given by the MinistryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for appointing Coordinators without a recognized qualification, out side theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Science and Technological Officers ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ themselves , is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to make the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-controllerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  more ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ effective, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a coordinator selected from among the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Science and Technological Officers wouldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  not effectively control ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-colleaguesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in service.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is an absurd argument as officers in any service are promoted from among those in service.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And further, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is not a valid reasonƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to appoint political favoritesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  who are not evenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  more qualified or experienced than the Science and Technology Officers themselves. It would only discourage them and dampen their enthusiasmƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to give their best to the work.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is a regrettable lapse, to an other wise highly praiseworthy plan, which takes Science and Technology to the village.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The plan is still in its ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-enfancyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and the Minister could still improve it by recognizingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the yeoman service of those who implement the plan ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and make them full fledged Government Servants.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is time that the Minister of Science and Technology Professor Tissa Vitarana ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ step out of his Ministerial andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Political garb, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to look at ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  young Science Graduates as the Professor of Science and Technology that he is, and appreciateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the enormousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  work they are doingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to make his pet project ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ work to the benefit of the people at grass-root level.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is only then ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he would understand that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these young gradutes have a right to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  recognized as other government servants withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  possibilities ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  carrier development,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and sit for competitive examinations in the Government Service to takeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  higherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  professional responsibilities.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That would be a fair and a just means of compensating young graduates who are doing a real job implementingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a laudable plan of the Minister of Science and Technology Professor.Tissa Vitarana,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to better the condition of livingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of the so far neglected villager.