Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s announcement that his government would reward any scientist from Andhra who can win Nobel Prize has come as a big surprise.
Naidu made this announcement before the students of various schools while inaugurating the Indian Children’s Science Congress held at Sri Padmavathi Mahila University on Wednesday.
“Rs 100 crore – this is the spontaneous announcement I am making. If any Andhra scientist wins the Nobel Prize, we will give him or her Rs 100 crore. I am not bothered how you get it. But if you want Rs 100 crore, you have to strive hard and do research to win the Nobel Prize for the country,” he said.
A delegate at the Science Congress said it is not known whether Naidu was serious in his announcement or was just playing to the galleries.
“Such announcements should not be made from the dais. It is not a cinema award. It has to be as part of the science and technology policy which should be ratified by the cabinet. Apparently, Naidu made the announcement only to cheer up the students there,” he said.
May be Naidu is also not sure whether anybody from the state would get a Nobel prize, as there are hardly any scientific institutions in Andhra Pradesh.
“That is why he could make such a bold announcement, thinking that it would anyway not happen,” another delegate said.
