Sridhar Babu, Etala Rajender, and V. Vijayendra Prasad Inaugurated FDR's "Vignan Setu – Science Centre"

FDR aims for 1,000 Vignan Setu Science Centres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Dr JP invites NRIs and philanthropists to partner.

The Vignan Setu Science Centre, established by FDR at Alwal ZP Girls' High School in Medchal–Malkajgiri district, was inaugurated by D. Sridhar Babu, Telangana's Minister for Information Technology and Industries. The event was attended by Malkajgiri Member of Parliament Etala Rajender, Rajya Sabha Member and renowned screenwriter V. Vijayendra Prasad, district education and revenue officials, school staff, and students. The FDR team first guided the guests through the Science Centre and demonstrated its exhibits.

D. Sridhar Babu, said that learning outcomes in government schools could improve significantly — without placing any additional financial burden on parents — if Vignan Setu Science Centres, established by the Foundation for Democratic Reforms (FDR) under the leadership of Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), are expanded across the state. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Vignan Setu Science Centre at Alwal ZP Girls' High School.

He said that when students overcome their fear of science and develop a scientific temper, they can excel in education. Science, he noted, is not confined to classrooms or textbooks — it is present in everyday life, in sunlight, rain, wind, and even in the kitchen. He remarked that earlier generations believed it was impossible to provide modern conveniences to everyone, but scientific progress has made quality food, technology, and countless comforts accessible to ordinary people. Referring to India's agricultural transformation, he said there was once a time when the country depended on food imports arriving by ship from the United States, whereas today India has become a major food exporter due to the contributions of scientists. He appreciated JP's decision to establish the Science Centre in a girls' school and encouraged students to set ambitious goals and make the best use of this opportunity.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Founder of FDR and Lok Satta, said that while there are countless opportunities for children to succeed in life, they can realize their potential only when their intellect is fully developed. Unfortunately, he said, due to poor quality school education, nearly 80 percent of children in Telangana and several other states are unable to realize their intellectual potential. He pointed out that although governments spend more than ₹1 lakh per student annually in government schools, meaningful learning remains inadequate.

JP emphasized that the true purpose of education is not merely acquiring information, but understanding concepts and applying knowledge in real life. Science, he said, plays a central role in achieving this goal. It is for this reason that FDR has launched the Vignan Setu Science Centre as a bridge to close the learning gap. He explained that learning science properly also strengthens understanding in other subjects and equips students to excel in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, which offer abundant employment opportunities. Rather than spending years waiting for government jobs, students should prepare themselves for meaningful opportunities in the evolving job market.

He further stated that quality school education instills resilience and the confidence to persevere despite repeated failures. A genuine scientific education nurtures curiosity, encourages questioning and investigation, promotes conceptual understanding instead of rote memorization, develops problem-solving skills, and fosters a lifelong scientific outlook. Such Science Centres, he said, can cultivate these qualities in children. 

JP appealed to citizens to become partners in this science movement, announcing that FDR and Lok Satta aim to establish similar Science Centres in schools across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He urged NRIs, philanthropists, and individuals with resources to take the initiative to establish Science Centres in villages, mandal headquarters, and small towns. Those interested may contact the FDR office in Hyderabad by phone or email for guidance and technical support (Phone: +91 98660 74025). Such contributions, he said, would help shape the future of lakhs of children. He called upon society to work towards establishing 1,000 Vignan Setu Science Centres across the two Telugu states.

Etala Rajender remarked that every rupee invested in education is an investment in the future. He encouraged students to use technology responsibly and develop a critical mindset. Rather than accepting myths and superstitions—for example, believing that lightning occurs because Arjuna's chariot wheel falls from the sky—students should seek scientific explanations. He noted that Hyderabad demonstrated its scientific capability by rapidly developing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic and said that if school students acquire similar scientific thinking through Science Centres, Telangana can emerge as a global leader across multiple fields.

V. Vijayendra Prasad said that the letter "W" is his favourite because it represents fundamental questions such as "Why?", "How?", "When?", "Who?" and "What?" He observed that cinema and science are inseparable, and that filmmaking itself depends on scientific thinking. Good cinema, he added, has the power to inspire millions. Encouraging students to face both success and failure with equanimity, he urged them to emulate Thomas Alva Edison by persevering until they succeed.

Following the inauguration, students enthusiastically interacted with the dignitaries and posed several questions, which the guests answered. In keeping with the spirit of the event, there were no ceremonial shawls or formal felicitations. Instead, JP presented each guest with a copy of Bill Bryson's acclaimed book, "A Short History of Nearly Everything."