Former Chief Justice of India M N Venkatachaliah today opined that government should spend one per cent of the GDP in promoting scientific temperament among people and the same percentage by private industries and corporates to promote science.
"The government must spend one per cent of the GDP in promoting scientific temperament. The same should be spent by private industries and corporates for promoting science. Everything must be tested empirically," he said
He was delivering the first N Ramachandran Memorial Lecture here, instituted in memory of late veteran journalist N Ramachandran.
Justice Venkatachaliah said concentration of wealth in the hands of a few was one of the greatest threats faced by democracy in India.
"Eighty five per cent of the national income goes to the hands of 10 per cent of the population. Only one per cent goes to commoners. In eight states of India, there are poorest of the poor than all African countries put together," he said.
Stating that great journalists are indispensable for the country, he said democracy is inconceivable without a strong press.
"Press should be free and fair. If it is not free, it cannot be fair. Error of motive is unpardonable," he said.
Meanwhile, state Finance Minister K M Mani, said media should do self-assessment about creating controversies for increasing TRP.
"It is high time media introspected on created and planted controversies. Creating controversies to increase TRP will not help social cause. Managements and media should do self-analysis about creating controversies that will die down after some time," he said.
Mani inaugurated the N Ramachandran Foundation, set up to commemorate the veteran journalist, who helmed Malayalam daily 'Kerala Kaumudi'.
Senior journalist and former editor-in-chief of The Hindu N Ram, who received the first N Ramachandran memorial award from Justice Venkatachaliah for his contributions to the field of journalism, said the media has a great role to play in society and it cannot go away from it.
"Media should be credible and critical. It has an educational role in many subjects. It also has to provide a platform for constructive debates," he said, adding that the monopoly of media would be a great danger for freedom of the press.
