Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: A two- day national seminar on ‘Diversity and Reproduction in Plants and Microbes: Present Scenario’ under the aegis of UGC-SAP DRS II program sanctioned to the Department of Botany, was inaugurated in the Department of Botany, here today.
On the occasion, Dr Saroj K Barik, Director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow was the chief guest. In his keynote address, Dr Barik highlighted the importance of plants and microbes as important bioresouces and underscored the need for their conservation and sustainable use. He also highlighted the strategies to convert the plant diversity into bio- through bio-economy models.
In his presidential remarks, Prof Manoj K Dhar, the Vice Chancellor, JU, spoke on the relevance of the seminar topic in the current scenario and elaborated on the importance of the symbiosis among the organisms. He explained how plants and microbes are going to solve the problems of food security and environmental degradation with the exponential rise in the human population. ‘While on one hand there is a population explosion, on the other hand, the arable land resources are shrinking at a rapid past. To keep this balance, the plants and microbes must be explored for solving these issues,” he said.
Earlier, Prof Namrata Sharma, Head, Department of Botany said that this was the consecutive 2nd seminar under SAP (DRS-II) in the Department of Botany, wherein the delegates from across the country are participating.
Prof Yash Pal Sharma, SAP (DRS-II) Coordinator and Convenor of the seminar, introduced the details of the Special Assistance Programme to the delegates. He said that under the scheme the Department has got the funds of Rs 84.50 lakhs for carrying out the research on the specified topics and infrastructural development with respect to modernization of labs in the department.
During the inauguration function, two founder Professors of the Department of Botany, Prof A K Koul and Prof M C Sharma were also honoured with Life Time achievement Awards by the Botanical Club of the Department of Botany, JU.
Prof Veenu Kaul, Organizing secretary of the seminar, presented vote of thanks and Dr Harpreet Bhatia conducted proceedings of the function. Prof Rajni Dingra, Registrar of JU; Prof Rajni Kant, Controller of Examinations; Prof Roopma Gandotra, Dean Life Sciences and others were present on the occasion.
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