Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday urged scientists and researchers to come up with practical and relevant ideas to provide effective and efficient healthcare for the rural population.

Speaking at the Indian Science Congress summit here, he said the government was paying great attention to agriculture and energy, emphasising the need for a "new deal" that will have "economic and social content as well as technological component".

"Countries like ours must look at the diseases that affect our population... Our government is presently formulating programmes to launch a National Rural Healthcare Mission. I urge you to come forward with practical and relevant ideas," he said.

This year, the theme for the congress is "Health Technology as Fulcrum of Development."

"I appeal to the very best of our scientific community to engage themselves in dealing with such challenges that are both intellectually and socially relevant," Singh said, stressing the need for better vaccination and medicines to be developed in India.

"I would like to draw the attention of our science and technology community to two areas of great importance to our economic development. These are agriculture and energy."

Adding both public and private sectors needed to increase their investments in rural infrastructure, Singh said: "We have emphasised the need for a second green revolution. This requires greater application of science and technology in agriculture.

"The benefits of new research in biotechnology, in electronics and communication technology and in infrastructure related technologies must translate into higher incomes for our farmers.

"Energy sector is another area of concern for us. We require new technological revolution in the energy sector aimed at meeting the growing demand for energy in more economical and sustainable ways," he said, calling for a strategy for conservation of energy taking into consideration both social and technological implications.