Former Indian Space Research Organization chairman Padma Vibhushan G Madhavan Nair has pleaded for increased remuneration to scientists and researchers if the zeal for academics has to be maintained across the country.

Nair made the plea while inaugurating 'Anwesha', the techno-cultural fest of IIT-Patna, on Friday. A Rajya Sabha member, he heads the institute's Board of Governors.

He said the institute has carved out a niche for itself in a short period of three years because of the committed support of the state government and the director's efforts. In another two years, the institute will move to its new separate campus, he said.

The greatest challenge before the IITs, described by many as "export-oriented institution", is to channelize the efforts of its alumnae and alumni towards the development of India and its people, Nair said as he acknowledged the fact that many IIT passouts are migrating to the US and Europe.

According to Nair, food security and healthcare need revolutionary technological innovations and interventions. "Engineering students must strive to produce technology with end-to-end solution, guaranteeing self- sufficiency to the country. They should engineer ideas into practical products through inter-disciplinary interaction," he said and added that the engineers need to generate inexpensive equipment for use on a mass scale.

"Our institute started in 2008 and has grown dynamically with 52 faculty members and 370 students on its rolls today," institute IIT-P director Anil K Bhowmick said and attributed the rapid progress to the efforts of faculty and ambitions of students.

In his welcome address, Harsh Vardhan introduced 'Anwesha' as "a quest for infinite and a quest for excellence and knowledge". The three-day fest, he said, promises to be a grand mix of technological and cultural events.

Quiz, debate and games marked the first day. A classical music programme was also held in the evening.