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| Shri Pawan Chamling proposes setting up of Biotech Park in Sikkim |
Gangtok, April 14, 2012: Two days long 2nd North East Biotech Hub Coordinators’ Interactive Meeting began today here at Chintan Bhawan, organised by Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology Gangtok, Department of Science and Technology and Climate Change, Government of Sikkim. The meeting supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi, saw the presence of Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling as chief guest along with Mr Bhim Dhungel, Minister for Science and Technology, Dr T. Madhan Mohan, Adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi, Dr B. Ravindran, Director ILS, Bhubaneswar, Dr Purnima Sharma, MD & NERBPMC, New Delhi on the dais in the inaugural session.
More than 100 Scientists and Research Scholars from Government of India and Institutional Hub Coordinators are participating in the meeting where they will be discussing on protection, conservation, monitoring and evaluation work on biodiversity and to foster exchange of ideas to promote Biotechnology in the North East region.
In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister informed that Sikkim- home to towering Mount Kanchenjunga and exquisite tapestry of flora and fauna, perhaps an exemplary State to ban killing of wildlife, felling of trees and use of plastics, where environmental conservation is paramount in all development philosophy. A State very close to attaining zero poverty status, wanting vigorously to pursue the ultimate aim of making Sikkim a total organic state. Sikkim accounts only 0.2% of total geographical area of the country, yet hosts over 26% of country’s biodiversity, he mentioned.
Respecting the sanctity of all living organisms including the green and clean environment, the Chief Minister further added that the State Government has undertaken many conservation measures to protect the mountain ecology and has moved very cautiously while undertaking any developmental activity. For Sikkim, conservation, protection of eco-system and environmental sanctity has remained priority, he added. The Chief Minister also infomed about the various innovative green initiatives taken by his government way back in 1995 like Harit Kranti Varsha, and the decade 2000 to 2010 as Harit Kranti Dasak, to generate mass awareness among the people through plantations. Other programmes like State Green Mission and Ten Minutes to earth have generated awareness about the conservation of environment and induced a sense of participation and ownership amongst the people.
Informing further, he said that registers are being maintained in each Gram Panchayat unit to record names of medicinal plants found in that area and for in-situ conservation on a regular basis and in the same manner he also asked the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for supporting such endeavor in this field in a more extensive and comprehensive manner. This Coordinators’ Meeting is a common platform to discuss the issues and problems faced by the Biotech hub centers of the North Eastern states and it shall, no doubt, help the North Eastern states to work in close coordination with world experts on biotechnology both in India and outside the country, he mentioned.
Mr Bhim Dhungel, in his address, mentioned that Science has made a noteworthy contribution to the global world in various sectors of medicine, agriculture, environment management and processing industry. Sikkim, blessed with natural beauty and rich biodiversity, is a treasure house of bioresources and protection and conservation of the same has been a priority in the state. He also believed that this two days meeting and the proceeding being published incorporating activities of all the Biotech- Hub Centres will serve as a valuable reference for the research organisations in the country. He also added that the exchange of intellectual ideas and thoughts during the meeting will lead to various recommendations and new ideas for strengthening of research in the field of biotechnology in the North Eastern region.
Dr T. Madhan Mohan, Adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi expressed that biotechnology is a fast growing science that amalgamates biology and technology to derive a result using technological applications and has been used in many forms of traditional practices by the Indian society. The scheme on establishment of Biotech Hubs under the special programme for North East has been supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India with the purpose of flourishing biotechnology in this region. The Adviser also advised the state government for capacity building for the students and hoped that north east can be a leading in biotechnology in the next five years.
In her address, Dr Purnima Sharma, MD & NERBPMC, New Delhi said that the two days programme aims at interacting, sharing, learning from each other experiences and enhancing capacities in bio technology.
Dr. B. Ravindran, Director, ILS (Institute of Life Sciences), Bhuwaneswar also shared his experiences.
The inaugural session also witnessed the release of books on Biodiversity of Sikkim and the proceeding of 2nd North East Biotech Hub Copordinators’ Meeting by the Chief Minister.
The technical session included the presentations by North East Coordinators, Institutional Hub Coordinators followed by the discussion with the Coordinators of Biotech Hubs. The second day shall also have the presentations by Institutional Hub Coordinators followed by the valedictory functions.
More than 100 Scientists and Research Scholars from Government of India and Institutional Hub Coordinators are participating in the meeting where they will be discussing on protection, conservation, monitoring and evaluation work on biodiversity and to foster exchange of ideas to promote Biotechnology in the North East region.
In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister informed that Sikkim- home to towering Mount Kanchenjunga and exquisite tapestry of flora and fauna, perhaps an exemplary State to ban killing of wildlife, felling of trees and use of plastics, where environmental conservation is paramount in all development philosophy. A State very close to attaining zero poverty status, wanting vigorously to pursue the ultimate aim of making Sikkim a total organic state. Sikkim accounts only 0.2% of total geographical area of the country, yet hosts over 26% of country’s biodiversity, he mentioned.
Respecting the sanctity of all living organisms including the green and clean environment, the Chief Minister further added that the State Government has undertaken many conservation measures to protect the mountain ecology and has moved very cautiously while undertaking any developmental activity. For Sikkim, conservation, protection of eco-system and environmental sanctity has remained priority, he added. The Chief Minister also infomed about the various innovative green initiatives taken by his government way back in 1995 like Harit Kranti Varsha, and the decade 2000 to 2010 as Harit Kranti Dasak, to generate mass awareness among the people through plantations. Other programmes like State Green Mission and Ten Minutes to earth have generated awareness about the conservation of environment and induced a sense of participation and ownership amongst the people.
Informing further, he said that registers are being maintained in each Gram Panchayat unit to record names of medicinal plants found in that area and for in-situ conservation on a regular basis and in the same manner he also asked the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for supporting such endeavor in this field in a more extensive and comprehensive manner. This Coordinators’ Meeting is a common platform to discuss the issues and problems faced by the Biotech hub centers of the North Eastern states and it shall, no doubt, help the North Eastern states to work in close coordination with world experts on biotechnology both in India and outside the country, he mentioned.
Mr Bhim Dhungel, in his address, mentioned that Science has made a noteworthy contribution to the global world in various sectors of medicine, agriculture, environment management and processing industry. Sikkim, blessed with natural beauty and rich biodiversity, is a treasure house of bioresources and protection and conservation of the same has been a priority in the state. He also believed that this two days meeting and the proceeding being published incorporating activities of all the Biotech- Hub Centres will serve as a valuable reference for the research organisations in the country. He also added that the exchange of intellectual ideas and thoughts during the meeting will lead to various recommendations and new ideas for strengthening of research in the field of biotechnology in the North Eastern region.
Dr T. Madhan Mohan, Adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi expressed that biotechnology is a fast growing science that amalgamates biology and technology to derive a result using technological applications and has been used in many forms of traditional practices by the Indian society. The scheme on establishment of Biotech Hubs under the special programme for North East has been supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India with the purpose of flourishing biotechnology in this region. The Adviser also advised the state government for capacity building for the students and hoped that north east can be a leading in biotechnology in the next five years.
In her address, Dr Purnima Sharma, MD & NERBPMC, New Delhi said that the two days programme aims at interacting, sharing, learning from each other experiences and enhancing capacities in bio technology.
Dr. B. Ravindran, Director, ILS (Institute of Life Sciences), Bhuwaneswar also shared his experiences.
The inaugural session also witnessed the release of books on Biodiversity of Sikkim and the proceeding of 2nd North East Biotech Hub Copordinators’ Meeting by the Chief Minister.
The technical session included the presentations by North East Coordinators, Institutional Hub Coordinators followed by the discussion with the Coordinators of Biotech Hubs. The second day shall also have the presentations by Institutional Hub Coordinators followed by the valedictory functions.
