DST to establish 15 more science technology and innovation hubs: Jitendra Singh

NEW DELHI: Union Ministers Arjun Munda and Jitendra Singh on Friday addressed the National Conclave on Science and Technology for Empowerment of Tribal Community at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati to commemorate “Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ to be observed on November 15.

Addressing the occasion, Munda said that the Government of India under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given special attention to integrated development of tribal people while keeping their identities alive. It is indeed appreciable that the Department of Science and Technology has taken steps in this direction by implementing projects involving innovations for development of tribals , Munda said.

Singh said that DST had so far established 10 exclusive “Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs” in different parts of the country for holistic development of Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. 15 more such hubs will be established in the next one year for inclusive socio-economic development through creation of sustainable livelihoods for the ST population in tune to their growing aspirations.

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On the occasion, a special programme of DST was launched for “Accelerated Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups” as a part of “Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav”.

Singh said, DST had also supported a Rs 50 crore R&D project to develop a permanent cure for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) with extensive benefits of improving the standard of life of such patients using gene editing technologies. He also added that Heritage Food and Beverage Research Centre for research on Ethnic Foods of Tribals of NE and ST community Centre of Bio resources for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship has been established at Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati at a cost of Rs 12 Crore.

Listing out other series of measures for upliftment of Tribal communities, Dr Jitendra Singh said, DST has provided 700 fellowships to ST students and scholars to pursue a career in Science through INSPIRE fellowships in the last three years.