IT News
Imphal, April 25
Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal, celebrated its 20 years of establishment through a virtual event today. IBSD was established on April 26, 2001 as an autonomous institute under Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India with the mission of “Bioresources development and their sustainable use through biotechnological interventions for the socio-economic growth of the North East region” with the goal of “Scientific management of bioresources in the Indian region falling under Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.”
The event was organized with the national seminar on “Managing Bioresources of NER for Atmanirbhar Bharat” with the esteemed leadership of Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, Director IBSD said IBSD, which witnessed a galaxy of speakers throughout the country. The virtual event was attended by Dr. R.K. Ranjan, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), LeishembaSanajaoba, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). Dr. Manju Sharma, former Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, C.P. Goyal, Joint Secretary, Department of Biotechnology and Dr. Govindarajan Padmanaban, former Director of Indian Institute of Sciences and many others.
While delivering his welcome speech Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee said IBSD started undertaking relevant research and development efforts in the much needed areas categorized in different verticals for research including; Phytopharmaceutical Mission, Ethnobotany, Ethnopharmacology and Drug Discovery, Microbial Resources, Fermented Food and Value Addition, Plant Resources, Animal Resources, Eco-Restoration, and quality management and surveillance of water. Besides IBSD has been undertaking several outreach programs including to battle against COVID-19 pandemic, DBT-IBSD has been interacting and actively supporting several Covid-19 testing facilities of NER and also set up its own COVID-19 testing facility jointly with JNIMS, Imphal.
During his inaugural speech, Dr. R.K. Ranjan who is also member of IBSD Society suggested that IBSD should develop different technologies and transfer to the entrepreneurs to boost the economy of Manipur and the region. He appreciated the work undertaken under phytopharmaceutical mission of the institute under the guidance of Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee. He also narrated how IBSD was conceived and established 20 years ago. Leishemba Sanajaoba, Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha) during his speech suggested that IBSD should develop partnerships with local communities and improves effective collaborative with various institutions nationally and internationally in the areas of sustainable management of bio resources. He appreciated several outreach and research activities of IBSD.
Dr. Manju Sharma, former Secretary, DBT while addressing the event recalled how this institute was born 20 years ago. It may be mentioned that the institute was established during her tenure as Secretary of Department of Technology. She also appreciated the works undertaken by IBSD under the leadership of Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee.
The webinar was attended by many imminent scientists and officials of DBT including Shekhar Dutt, former Secretary, AYUSH, Govt. of India, Dr. Bhusan Patwardhan, National Research Professor, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Prof. N. Rajmuhon Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Dhanamanjuri University, Imphal, Dr. Ajay Parida, Director, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Dr. Anamika Gambhir, Scientist-F, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and Dr. Manoj K. Modi, Scientist-E, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India; Dr. Geofry Cordel from Chicago USA, Dr. Dominicod Elfino and Marco Leonti from Italy and many others.
It may be mentioned that IBSD was established on April 26, 2001 as an autonomous national institute under Department of Biotechnology by Govt. of India. This is first time that IBSD observed its foundation day today. Today’s event was also attended by staff and students of IBSD, Imphal and its regional Centre/research nodes located in Sikkim, Aizawl and Shillong.
