Growth of R&D in J&K, a success story: Omar

Srinagar, September 17 (Scoop News)- Expressing optimism on the growth of scientific research in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday said that the path breaking achievements of SKUAST to clone pashmina goat ‘Noore’, diagnose of Hepatitis-E and non-surgical treatment for Hydatide-cyst by SKIMS, producing best working group on plant invasion in India by Kashmir University and contribution of Jammu University in the Hadron collusion Research tell the success story of research and scientific work done by the scientists in the State.

However, the Chief Minister added that there is much need to widen the scientific research orbit and catch up with the progress other countries have achieved in this field. Omar said that a recent study titled “Global Research Report” has indicated that India during 2007, 2008 had 156 researchers per million in population as compared to 4,700 per million in United States while the number of researchers in China was 14,23,000 against India’s 1,54,800 in 2007. “India’s spending on research and development was US $24 billion in 2007-08 as compared to US $104 billion and USA’s $368 billion”, he said laying stress on focusing this sector to keep pace with other countries.

Addressing 8th Science Congress 2012 organized by Kashmir University in collaboration with State Council for Science and Technology and other concerned institutes, the Chief Minister said that creation of scientific temperament at the primary school level requires thrust. “We have to inculcate interest among the young boys and girls in science and research right from their early age so that they could be nurtured and mould into futuristic scientists of par excellence”, he said emphasizing the need for teaching science subjects in all the schools and colleges besides providing best laboratory facilities to the students.

Underlining the importance of the Science Congress for evolving solutions to the problems of environment, agro-production, climatic change, healthcare, pollution and other related matters affecting the day-to-day life of humans, plants and animals, the Chief Minister said that necessary feedback in this regard is available with the researchers participating in the Congress.

Omar Abdullah expressed the hope that the Congress would prove productive and come up with valuable research based suggestions for the administration to act upon in a befitting manner. “You have greater challenges but the opportunities are more. The Congress provides you valuable opportunity to share in person your work with fellow scientists and build relation with institutions within the country and abroad”, he added.

The Chief Minister appreciated the organizers for holding the Congress in the State and wished success to it.

The Congress was also addressed by the Minister for Science and Technology, Aga Syed Ruhulla who gave resume of the initiatives the State Government led by Omar Abdullah has taken to catapult the scientific research and development in the State.

Among others Parliament Member, Ghulam Nabi Rattanpuri, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Vice Chancellors of various Universities, President Indian Science Congress Krishan Lal participated in the Congress besides research scholars and scientists.

The Vice Chancellor Kashmir University Talat Ahmad presented the welcome address.

Earlier, Vice President of India, Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Governor Jammu and Kashmir, N. N. Vohra also addressed the Congress.