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Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 20: Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan and Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the India’s first ever GMP Medicinal Unit in Indian Institute of Integrated Medicines (IIIM) here today.
The Unit will not only give boost to scientific research and creation of job avenues but will also bring Council of Scientific and Integrated Research (CSIR) India on frontline in nations of world in production and manufacturing of original medicines.
The newly built, state of art WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Plant for extraction, formulation, packaging medicinal plant is based on Phyto pharmaceutical drugs under internally accepted GMP guidelines.
On the occasion, the two Union Ministers also unveiled the statue of Sir Ram Nath Chopra, a renowned pharmacologist of India and the founder of IIIM in Jammu.
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of the function, Dr Harsh Vardhan said with the inauguration of the plant the IIIM will emerge as India’s top and prestigious laboratory.
He said IIIM has a great potential. Maintaining that Ayurveda is the identity of Indians, he said Indians know its property and now world is using it after proper research as a modern medicine. Such research is done in IIM, he added.
He said as Narendra Modi Government is working for maintaining health for all, efforts will be made to further improve the research work by CSIR.
The Union Minister said the facility will also be used as the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) for which Department of Science and Technology Government of India has already approved the project.
It may be recalled that soon after taking over as Union Minister in 2014 Dr Singh took initiative and persued establishment of Medicinal Unit in IIIM Jammu and installation of statue of Sir Ram Nath Chopra in the institute.
Talking to media persons, Dr Jitendra Singh termed the opening of the unit as well as setting up of Biotechnical Park at Ghati Kathua and cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants in Basholi as new phase of fast track development for Jammu region which can boost the economy of the people especially the farmers to a great extent.
When his attention was turned towards the prevailing situation on borders in the State, where Pakistan is making unsuccessful bids to send armed desperados inside J&K, the Union Minister said Indian forces are alert and fully capable to face any kind of challenge. “We should have full faith in our security forces who are fully capable to frustrate the designs of enemy”, he added.
On the suspension of the Government employees involved in subversive activities by State Government, Dr Singh said any kind of such action by the Government boosts morale of both forces as well as the people.
Maintaining that people living along the borders are in high spirits, he said they are not bothered for themselves but want that enemy be taught a lesson once and for all.
Not making any direct comment on recovery of Chinese flags in Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh, however, said that country has full faith in its security forces who are capable enough to unmask any conspiracy against nation.
Later, addressing the function, Dr Singh regretted that it is an irony that Sir Ram Nath Chopra was known every where except in Jammu. He termed unveiling of his statue at IIIM a great redemption after 70 years, saying that the credit for this goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Harsh Vardhan.
He said the Chopras family had to wait for long 70 years till Modi take over to give him the due recognition as he deserved.
He regretted that Regional Research Laboratory which IIIM was earlier known as being one of the prestigious institutes of Asia was known for holding flower shows earlier.
He said this laboratory was set up by Dr Chopra in 1941 while CSIR was established in 1942. Dr Singh made it clear that “till we have no social awareness we can’t take forward this legacy”.
He while highlighting various projects taken up under CSIR said weather forecasting instrument was established by the Ministry at Sanji Chat near holy town of Katra, while Biotech Park was got sanctioned for Ghati Kathua and country’s first ever aromatic and Medicinal Plant cultivation has been started from Basholi in Kathua district under this Ministry last year.
He said Ghati Biotech Park on which work will begin soon is the country’s first Biotech Park in North India after Lucknow while the Basholi is the first place in country where the Aromatic and Medicinal Plant cultivation has started.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General CSIR, Dr Girish Sahni urged the scientists to bring farmers to lab and create synergy through use of traditional knowledge. Asking them to take full advantage of opportunities, he said today Government and system is fully supporting us to go forward.
Ram Vishwakarma, Director IIIM Jammu said GMP facility would provide a high level world class infrastructure for the manufacturer of botanical/Phytopharmaceutical in a way to ensure their safety, efficacy and quality for global market.
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