Chennai: At a time when India is scaling new scientific heights, designing fast breeder reactors and sending rockets to the moon, the pay poor packets of scientists may not attract fresh talent, the scientists feel.

The country's premier scientific officers belonging to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the banner of Confederation of Atomic and Space Scientists/Technologists (Coast) met in Bangalore on Sunday and demanded an ombudsman to mediate for their demands and arrive at an amicable solution.

"We want the assurances made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as to payment of 40 percent of our basic pay as technology excellence pay or incentive to be fulfilled," said Coast president S. Joesph Winston.

According to him, the pay parity amongst comparable services like academia, research and civil services has been deteriorating against the interests of DAE and DOS scientists.

"This anamoly in the long run will not attract bright talent to the two important sectors," he added.

Successive pay commissions have progressively downgraded the status of scientists as compared to university professors.

In addition, Coast has demanded better insurance schemes for its members as they work in challenging environments involving high probability of risk.

"We would also like to meet the prime minister to voice our concerns," Winston said. IANS