Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 9: India is working on cost-effective vaccines against four Zoonotic diseases, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said today.
“Besides Covid, we have four more vaccines in the trial stage, which is being excitedly watched by the world, one is related to Anthrax, another on Brucellosis, one on Swine Fever and one on Leptospirosis. The world will get this gift of four vaccines from India and I am confident the Opposition members too will benefit out of it,” said Dr Jitendra Singh, while replying to a question in the Lok Sabha.
The S&T Minister said, under PM Modi, India successfully led the world by successfully tackling the Covid pandemic.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India not only ensured the safety and well-being of its population about 130-142 crore, but also gave the other countries the world’s first Covid vaccine. Opposition leaders also availed of its benefit, that is why 2.2 billion vaccines (vials) were produced,” he said.
Stating that the zoonotic diseases are transmitted from animal resources to humans in the form of pathogens, such as haemorrhagic fever, bird flu, Japanese Encephalitis etc, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Prime Minister has accorded priority to health sector and raised the Health budget.
“He also taught us that working in silos will elude success, only an integrated holistic approach, the whole of government approach would deliver results like the successful management of the Covid crisis. On the same lines, we are not only collaborating with the WHO but also the first time a consortium has been constituted under the chairmanship of PM Modi, under his directions, in which the Departments of Veterinary Sciences, Science & Technology, Health and Animal Husbandry, in all 24 Departments will jointly deliberate and research on a single platform,” he said.
In reply to another question in the same House, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “As a result of the revolutionary decisions taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014, the pioneering work done is world class and is also benefiting other nations”.
Dr Jitendra Singh said PM Modi has opened the Space sector to private participation and Atomic Energy to joint ventures.
“Like the Space sector that was opened for Public-Private Partnership by PM Modi, on the same lines, a key decision was made in 2015 to allow Joint Ventures in the Atomic Energy sector. Besides, during PM Modi’s tenure, bulk approval facilitated for the first time, a single Cabinet decision on the setting up of ten indigenous reactors,” he said.
“Under PM Modi, the Government launched campaign to raise awareness on how atomic energy can be used for Ease of Living, for example in Agriculture sector how the shelf life of fruits and vegetables can be increased by utilizing Atomic Energy; in Health sector, facilities applying modern techniques and Quantum Technology were launched at Tata Memorial and its affiliated hospitals, one of which was inaugurated by PM Modi last year near Mohali-Chandigarh, for the benefit of citizens,” he said.
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