GUWAHATI, Oct 3 � A special train with 508 school students left for a five-day science exposure tour � Bijnan Jyoti Jatra � to West Bengal from the Guwahati railway station today.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi formally flagged off the journey at Dispur Secretariat while Science and Technology Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accompanied the team to the railway station.
The students will visit Science City Kolkata, Birla Planetarium, Indian Botanical Garden, Mother House, Victoria Memorial, Jadu Ghar, Nicco Park, Durgapur Steel Plant and Durgapur Barrage, among others.
The science exposure tour comes as part of the Assam Science Technology and Environment Council�s (ASTEC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Assam, efforts to popularize science among the people, especially the student community.
The tour � stated to be the first of its kind in the country � is expected to provide some much-needed first-hand exposure and experience to the inmates of the special train. The students have been chosen from the Aryabhatta centres of 219 blocks, 100 children scientists from the Children�s Science Congress-2009, from the best NGC Eco Clubs, and from among winners in competitions in the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Divas. The students have been accompanied by 140 selected escorts, guard teachers from Children�s Science Congress, and government officials.
�Bijnan Jyoti Jatra is an effort of the State Government to provide on-the-field exposure to the students of Assam on new frontiers and applications of science and technology,� ASTEC director Satyendra Kumar Choudhury said.
�The objective of Bijnan Jyoti Jatra is to inculcate awareness of science and technology among our students. By visiting various places of science and technology they will be able to grasp the widening horizon of science and technology,� Dr Choudhury said.