ISRO receives Gandhi Peace Prize from President

By NewsGram Staff-Writer

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday awarded the Indian space agency ISRO with Gandhi Peace Prize for 2014.

Presenting the prize at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said science and technology is a key driver for shaping the destiny of nations and people across the globe. He also congratulated every member of ISRO for receiving the prize.

President Mukherjee praised ISRO by terming it an organisation which has developed and demonstrated world class capabilities. He said, "Technology is not built alone by individuals, an organization is always necessary. The characteristics of organization – their leaders, their structures and their cultures have a great bearing on catalysing innovations and putting them to use for the benefit of society."

"Although technology has sought to encompass the globe and reach for the stars, but it has always remained rooted in its core mission of national regeneration and worked towards improving the life of a common man, a goal set for the nation by Mahatma Gandhi," the President said.

He applauded the launch of small sounding rockets from Thumba for atmospheric studies. as it has made ISRO sixth largest space agency of the world. He also said India scripted history on September 24 last year as it successfully placed the Mars Orbiter around Mars.

"It is the only country in the world to achieve this feat in its first attempt and the fourth space agency in the world to reach Mars. It makes us even more proud that this mission was achieved at a fraction of the cost incurred by other successful nations," the President said.

The President said ISRO has also successfully built the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) with an indigenous cryogenic engine. He complimented ISRO for designing people-centric space programmes to support various national priorities such as food and water security, sustainable environmental practices, conservation of resources, livelihood support, poverty alleviation, rural prosperity, education and health care and disaster management.

With Inputs from IANS