By Fakir Balaji
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 3 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the 97th Indian Science Congress (ISC 2010) here Sunday amid tight security.

The prime minister, who arrived here late Saturday, will address eminent scientists, Nobel laureates, policy makers and students on the technology challenges and the direction in which the country should move to find innovative solutions to achieve equitable growth and development.

As the congress is being held for the first time in this Kerala capital, unprecedented security arrangements have been made, with about 1,000-policemen deployed in and around the sprawling campus of Kerala University at Karyavottam, about 15 km from the coastal city.

“The campus has been sanitised in accordance with the security measures required to protect the country’s prime minister. For security reasons, we cannot share the details,” a senior police officer told IANS.

Prior to delivering the inaugural address, Singh will release the plenary proceedings of the science congress and present 24 awards to noted scientists and research scholars.

The awards are instituted by the Kolkata-based Indian Science Congress Association (ICSA), the main organiser of the five-day event.

General president of the science congress and former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair will outline the various programmes and activities of the 97th edition of the congress.

About 7,000 delegates, including 3,000 students, are participating in the premier national science summit, hosted by Kerala University with the state-run ISRO as co-host.

The focal theme of the mega event is “Science and Technology Challenges of 21st century - National Perspective”.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan will also address the congress. Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will also speak on the occasion and Governor R.S. Gavai, who is also the chancellor of the university, will be present among other dignitaries.

The green campus has been given a face-lift and its surroundings spruced up to befit the grand occasion.

According to organising secretary and university senate member T. Rajamohan, the main venue has been erected at a cost of Rs.1 crore (Rs.10 million) with a capacity to seat about 6,500 delegates.

“The main venue has been cordoned-off as per the guidelines in the prime minister’s Blue Book and is guarded by the Special Protection Group (SPG) and the state police forces,” the official said.

Eminent scientists like M.S. Swaminathan, father of India’s green revolution, former atomic energy secretary Anil Kakodkar, space commission member Roddam Narasimhan and Nobel laureate Irving Zucker will be the noted speakers at eight plenary sessions.

Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, distinguished scientists M.G.K. Menon and C.N.R. Rao and Nobel laureate Roger Tsien will deliver public lectures.

The plenary and public lectures will provide broader international perspectives and create awareness about the role of science in society.

Kalam will also inaugurate Monday the ‘Children Science Congress’ being held as part of the national event.

A major attraction at the congress is a science exhibition showcasing the latest scientific developments and achievements in the country.