Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 17: The Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of Science and Technology Ministry, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that all steps will be taken to develop Kathua, which is geographically and logistically close to industrial centers of Jallandhar and Ludhina in neighboring Punjab as an industrial hub.
Addressing a function organized by Ministry of Science and Technology in connection with J&K Aroma exhibition held here today, Dr Singh said it has always been a contradiction that Kathua has not attached priority in this regard.
Terming it a historical day for Kathua he said for the first time entire Ministry of Science and Technology including the Director General of CSIR and other officers of his Ministry as well as State administration were present to make people aware about the potentials of science and technology.
Dr Singh also announced that in this regard the first ever biotechnology park will be brought up in the region and its foundation stone will be laid soon.
Dr Jitendra Singh said this is a new beginning for Kathua district as entire district administration, MLAs and prominent people are present to jointly make a new beginning to develop Kathua as an industrial hub and nucleus for job generation for the youth.
Going around the various stalls of the Science Aroma exhibition, Dr Jitendra Singh explained the people and activists about various products developed by Indian Institute of Integrated Medicines (IIIM) for healthy use and marketing. These include perfumes, scents, herbal drugs and leather articles which are available at much lesser prizes than market and are healthy for use, he added.
He issued directives to Director IIIM and Deputy Commissioner Kathua to hold interactions with local businessmen and traders for wider circle of marketing for these products. He announced that IIIM will enter manufacturing innovation programme by engaging house wives and unemployed youth which will not help in encouraging domestic products but also provide livelihood to people.
He said a project will be taken up with Union Women Welfare Minister, Maneka Gandhi under Border Area Development Programme (BADP) for construction of exclusive toilets for women living in border areas as in these areas the women are not able to go out to ease themselves in open fields during late night hours due to night patrolling by jawans.
He expressed the hope that the local administration led by DCs will cooperate in executing all the centrally sponsored schemes including PMGSY so that their benefit reaches to common masses. In case of any problem in this regard they can Contact him, he added.
Director General of CSIR, P S Ahuja who made his maiden visit to Kathua said there is abundant potential to coordinate in production of Aroma with resources from Kathua and neighboring Himachal Pradesh.
He applauded the initiative of Dr Jitendra Singh for encouraging the exposure of working of the Ministry of Science and Technology in different parts of the country including lesser known town of Kathua.
Director IIIM Mr Vishwakarma said that State has one of the most original resources available for production herbal drugs, edible oils and other utility items.
The local MLAs including Jagdish Raj Sapolia, Master Lal Chand, Durga Dass besides DC Kathie, Shahid Iqbal, SSP, Mohan Lal, Additional DC P Ramaswami and other senior officers as well as BJP general secretary Rajiv Jasrotia, Party district president Kathua, Vijay Sharma were present in the function.
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