Two day meet on NE Bioinformatics Centre
Subedi calls for proper documentation of Sikkim’s traditional assets
GANGTOK, November 12: State science and technology minister SB Sudedi today urged the Union Ministry of Science and Technology to set up a Biotech Park in Sikkim for entrepreneurship development in biotechnology using public private partnership.
“The Dept of Biotechnology, GoI should also set up a Biotech Park in Sikkim as well as similar to one already set up in Lucknow for entrepreneurship development in biotechnology using public private partnership”, said the minister in his inaugural address of the two day interactive meet for bioinformatics centre of Northeast here at Chintan Bhavan.
Representatives from Northeast centres and educational institutes are attending this meet organized by Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology. DN Tarkapa, SLA Speaker were also present on the occasion.
Regarding the proposed Regional Research Centre for Sikkim by the Department of Bioinformatics, GoI, Mr. Subedi will help in development and dissemination of appropriate technologies of sustainable use of bio-resources for improvement of livelihood conditions of the local people.
“Sikkim being rich in bio-resources, people of Sikkim have higher degree of dependence of bio-resources and I hope that the proposed Regional Research Centre will help in development and dissemination of appropriate technologies of sustainable use of bio-resources for improvement of livelihood conditions of the local people. The thrust should be given for appropriate technology dissemination for improvement of yield and value addition of large cardamom, ginger, orange, medicinal plants, bamboo and other horticulture priority species through biotechnological interventions”, he said.
The minister also said that the proposed centre management should have representatives from all concerned departments of the State for effective coordination and technology dissemination in the field besides provisions for local employment and deputation posts from the State government. He added that the present
Bioinformatics Centre in Sikkim which is having the status of Distributed Information Sub-Centre should be further strengthened and should be developed as a full fledged Bio-informatics Centre for taking a leading role in the State as well as in the entire NER.
Mr. Subedi took the occasion to highlight the efforts of the State government towards environment protection and conservation of the State's rich biodiversity.
“We are very rich in traditional knowledge and native wisdom related to local health traditions using various medicinal plants by traditional faith healers. There should be proper documentation of this traditional knowledge in order to protect their intellectual property rights. The Dept of Biotechnology, GoI should also support our endeavor in this field”, he said.
In his welcome address, the State science and technology secretary ML Arrawatia informed that the scope and importance of bioinformatics was visualized very early by the Department of Biotechnology, GoI which has identified this sector as an area of high priority. “Keeping in view the richness of biodiversity of Sikkim, a Bioinformatics centre has also been set up under Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology under the Biodiversity theme with financial and technical support from the Department of Bioinformatics. This centre is functioning since 2001 and working for development of the data base on the various facets of Sikkim's Biodiversity”, he said.
Mr. Arrawatia informed that the centre has prepared database on scientists working on bio-resources and biodiversity of the State working in various organizations, database on 450 species of orchids, 36 species of Rhododendron and 200 species of medicinal plants has been prepared.
“Database on butterflies and birds of Sikkim is also being prepared. The centre has produced two volumes of compilation on the published papers, book chapters and popular articles on bio-resources of Sikkim”, Mr. Arrawatia.
The secretary said that in the future activities, the Sikkim centre will focus on collaborative works in the field of biotechnology and bioinformatics with other BTIsnet centres and other research institutes within and outside the State.
“We will also work on the preparation of database on traditional knowledge of folk/faith healers of Sikkim and database on diseases of horticultural crops”, Mr. Arrawatia said.
A website on the bioinformatics centre of Sikkim was also launched by Mr. Subedi. The website www.bioinformaticssikkim.com lists out the activities and objectives of the centre.
The minister also released an animation audio-visual CD prepared by the state bioinformatics centre that can be used as a learning tool by students to understand this discipline.
Source: Sikkim Express
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