‘India’s journey to 5 tn economy to begin from IIIM J&K’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 22: Maintaining that Narendra Modi Government is committed to transformation of Jammu and Kashmir on the pattern of North Eastern States where terrorism has completely vanished and the region is fast moving on the path of development, and progress, Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today reiterated that Domicile Law will come “very soon ‘’ that will be followed by the Land Act.
Addressing a function organised by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrated Medicines (IIIM) in connection with signing of a Research and Development Agreement (RDA) with IndusScan, a Canada based Pharmaceutical Company here today, Dr Jitendra Singh allayed the fears of the people by announcing that more than promised jobs will be provided to the youth of the UT after the notification of rules is worked out.
“The Domicile Act is coming very soon, which will be immediately followed by Land Act and other rules’’, the Minister said. While hitting out at those parties who were misleading the people by demanding enactment of Domicile Law for J&K, Dr Jitendra Singh said every law will be enacted one by one in J&K to protect the interests of land owners and unemployed youth but warned that some politicians who were hand in glove with land mafia will certainly get unemployed after that.
Terming the signing of agreement a historical occasion and a landmark day in the history of J&K, Dr Jitendra Singh said that India’s journey to five Trillion dollar global economy will begin from J&K through IIIM Jammu. “The agreement will bring Rs 2000 crore foreign investment in J&K which will boost the economy of the UT and also provide employment opportunities to youth’’, he added.
He, while stressing the need for a transparent public life, said unlike past the deserving and meritorious youth will get preference in employment. All steps will be taken in the best interests of the youth of two UTs who were deprived of getting due opportunities in life by earlier rulers, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that he was not saying this with any grudge towards any one but in the interests of the youth. “To become part of five Trillion global economy our youth have to compete all those parameters which are prescribed globally. This way the murmuring and whispering carried by thoughtless minds will vanish’’, he added.
The Union Minister regretted that IIIM, Jammu despite being a prestigious institute in research remained unrecognized and underutilized for decades together but now it has opened a new dawn for J&K UT. He said as J&K remained in isolation due to Constitutional barriers for seven long decades “We became lazy and lethargic as we got perturbed by Gem Portal’’.
Maintaining that there was revolutionary transformation in North East in last five years of Narendra Modi rule, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Prime Minister is saying again and again that we would have same kind of focus for J&K and Ladakh as we did for North East”.
Paying glorious tributes to Sir Ram Nath Chopra, the founder of Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) Jammu in 1941, he termed the great scientist a visionary brain whose hard work has yielded fruits now. He said RRL was India’s first laboratory before independence and later another was set up in the country after it got freedom in 1947.
He said though scientists have made remarkable achievements in the country but unfortunately they mostly live in darkness and media persons also take them lightly.
While highlighting some science based projects which were started in J&K by Modi Government, he said Biotech Park in Kathua and high tech Weather Forecasting instrument at Sanji Chatt in holy township of Katra are some among them worth name established after Modi Government came to power in 2014.
He said that all embargoes and hurdles which were an impediment in the progress and development of the two UTs were removed on August 5 and October 31 last year when erstwhile State was converted into two UTs.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, termed the signing of this scientific agreement between CSIR-IIIM and IndusScan a historic event for J&K and whole of India too as India is considered as the native place of this plant because in the Indus valley civilization, Cannabis was regarded as one of five sacred plants. Initially it was misused for psychoactivity and hence the plant was included in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 list.
He recalled the contribution of Sir Col. R.N.Chopra, son of soil who carried out extensive work on cannabis. He further appreciated the effort of IIIM Jammu which got the legal license for cultivation and medical research on this plant and product development. CSIR-IIIM is now globally recognized for its Cannabis work and several Industries and multinational companies are interested in collaboration with CSIR-IIIM. Dr. Jitendra Singh also expressed his satisfaction as this agreement will give an impetus for huge investment in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Jitendra Singh was the chief guest at the function. R R Bhatnagar, Advisor to LG (J&K) and Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, DG CSIR & Secretary to Government, DSIR were the guests of honour. Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur was special guest on the occasion.
R R Bhatnagar, Advisor to LG (J&K) appreciated the R&D activities of CSIR-IIIM, Jammu.
Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, DG CSIR & Secretary to Government, DSIR said that Cannabis has been associated with Indian culture and medicine since centuries; however, due to its misuse as psycho-active substance, it was banned worldwide from 1980s onwards and put under narcotic list. By current scientific collaboration between CSIR-IIIM, Jammu and IndusScan on Cannabis research will totally transform the uses and application of Cannabis.
Dr. Ram Vishwakarma, earlier in his welcome address said that recent scientific discoveries have confirmed that most of the psychoactive properties come from 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Recently another major compound was discovered named Cannabidiol (CBD) which is totally devoid of psycho-active properties and possesses remarkable therapeutic activities.
In last decade, four drugs namely Sativex (nabiximols), Marinol (Dronabinol), Nabilone (Cesamet), Epideloxhave been approved by US FDA/EU regulatory and many others in different clinical trials namely Ajulemic acid (Resunab, Phase-II), Dexanabinol (HU-211 or ETS2101, Phase-I).
With all these research in last 10 years, it is clear that CBD from Cannabis is a miracle drug for several therapeutic indications (pain management including rheumatic, reduce nausea and vomiting, suppress seizure activity, combat anxiety, depression, psychosis disorders, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-tumoral properties and antioxidant properties that could fight neurodegenerative disorders).
Since Cannabis grows all over India as weed, there is an emergent great opportunity to explore this valuable plant for the production of CBD and development of drugs for biomedical applications.
He further mentioned the importance of research on Cannabis and gave the detail of scientific agreement signed between CSIR-IIIM and IndusScan .
Among others, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, Dr D M Mondhe, Abdul Rahim, Dr Gurdarshan Singh, Dr Zabeer Ahmed (Sr. Principal Scientists), Dr Asha Chaubey, Dr Dhiraj Vyas , Dr Debaraj Mukherjee, Dr Amit Nargotra, Dr Sumit Gandhi, Dr Shashank K Singh (Principal Scientists), Pankaj Bahadur, Controller of Administration, Dr Amit Sharma, IIIM Medical officer,Praphul Kumar, Store and Purchase Officer and Anil Gupta Finance & Accounts Section Officer were also present.
Dr Deepika Singh conducted the proceedings while Rajneesh Anand, Chief Scientist presented the vote of thanks.
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