Union Minister of State for Culture, Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V.Narayanaswamy and Annamalai University Vice-Chancellor M.Ramanathan at the conference in Chidambaram on Monday.
CUDDALORE:
The Centre has proposed to set up Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India to oversee the functions of the proliferating number of institutions in the bio-technology sector, said V.Narayanaswamy, Union Minister of State for Culture, Planning and Parliamentary Affairs.
He was delivering the inaugural speech at the international conference on “Natural products and biomedical technology” organised by the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Annamalai University at Chidambaram on Monday.
The Minister said that there were many players in health research viz., the public and private sectors, autonomous organisations, non-governmental organisations, and, bilateral and multi-lateral agencies. Their number was on the rise and so also was the funding and, therefore better coordination among them was needed to put the resources to judicious use and to evolve strategy to prevent and cure diseases at affordable costs.
Mr Narayanaswamy said that the fund requirements of the bio-technology in the country for 2010-2011 were put at Rs 1,222 crore. Six new institutions in the areas of stem cell, agri-food biotechnology, animal biotechnology, health sciences, genomics and biotechnology training and education were at various stages of establishment. Two more institutions in the areas of seri-biotechnology and marine biotechnology, and three molecular medicine centres were proposed to be established. He called upon the researches to focus on evolving indigenous and affordable medicines.
He deplored the lack of health awareness among the people, particularly among the tribals. India was facing challenges on three fronts: heart ailments, cancer and diabetes and the onus was on the institutions to bring out bio-medicines to cure these maladies. Mr Narayanaswamy lauded the vast and wide research activities of Annamalai University and offered to make use of its expertise in the spheres of space technology and atomic energy.
Vice-Chancellor M.Ramanathan said that almost all 50 departments of the university were focusing on research activity.
He called for strengthening the research activity on Ayurvedic medicines and also on the utility of natural products. Dr. Ramanathan called for increased focus on to tapping natural sources and natural products. G.S.Lavekar, senior consultant, National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi, T.Balasubramanian, Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences, K.V.Pugalendi, Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, and P.Subramanian, organising secretary, spoke.
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