If the recent news regarding the Vigyan Prasar is to be believed, the institution is on the verge of being closed down. The decision has already been taken in a recent meeting of Ministry of Science & Technology. Vigyan Prasar (VP) is an autonomous organization under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. The principal objective of VP is to serve India’s science popularization agenda. Vigyan Prasar is the flagship institution of the government of India mandated to carry our science communication in the country. It is to be noted that Science Communication is one of the core activities in the scientific knowledge production process. Science communication and popularization serves as a robust knowledge led tool to fulfill and reinforce multiple public policy objectives such as creating and fostering a well-informed citizenry, building capacities and engaging the public. Closing down the only flagship public institution in this important area and that too without any comprehensive alternate plan shows nothing but callous attitude on part of the government. In its 35 years of service to the nation the institution has delivered unmatched science communication services in the areas such as health, agriculture, energy, water, sanitation, tribal empowerment, traditional knowledge, research and development and other branches of science, which concern the common man. Under the initiative of SCOPE Vigyan Prasar has for the first time in the history of our nation, started science communication initiatives in almost all the major regional languages, thus reaching millions of non-english, non-hindi speaking Indians. This is a milestone in itself in the history of Science Communication in India. The institute has not only acted as a bridge connecting the larger public with our scientific enterprise but also contributed immensely in building scientific temperament, which is a fundamental duty mandated under Article 51A(h). Closing down such institutes which have a mandate of public empowerment is a tragedy in itself. The scientific bureaucracy and the concerned ministry should rethink such decisions which will have far reaching consequences for our scientific enterprise and the aspirations therein. At a time when India attains the status of the most populous nation on this earth, the attempt should be to broaden the scope of Science Communication in the country, establishing more science communication institutions and not scuttle the existing initiatives and institutions.
