Mangaluru : Introducing inter-disciplinary combinations in different courses of study in education institutes can help to save social sciences, according to K Byrappa, Vice-Chancellor, Mangalore University.

Addressing a gathering at the inaugural session of five-day 39th Indian Social Science Congress at Mangalore University on Tuesday he said that “inter-disciplinary approach” should be applied in sanctioning and taking up research projects also.

U.T. Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, said that social sciences set the foundation for the development of a nation.

“Humanities, culture, and tolerance is the strength of India,” he said. Minister of State for Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment spoke. Indian Academy of Social Sciences is the organiser of the conference.

The host Mangalore University made the delegates, teachers, students, and media at the inaugural session to wait for one-and-half hour.

The inaugural session which was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. started at 11.30 a.m.

In the session which followed, N.P. Chaubey, general secretary of the academy, told the gathering,

“There was undue delay in the inauguration of the conference. I apologise for it. It was due to circumstances beyond our control. I will not go into details.”

As there was no tea break immediately after the inaugural session there was thin attendance in the hall for the session which followed.

Mr. Chaubey was heard calling a speaker to the stage to address in the next session. But the speaker was not in the hall.

Sources in the university said that the inaugural session got delayed due to the late arrival of Ministers.

Some teachers at the university told that now a majority of functions at the university started late, thus forcing students and teachers to wait and wasting valuable time.