National Medicinal Plant Board signs MoU with NBRI for promotion
of cultivation, production of medicinal plants
CSIR-NBRI 05th June, 2021
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New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): The National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPS) and the
National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) have signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) for extending joint collaborative efforts to boost the cultivation and
production of medicinal plants and herbs in India.
The Ministry of Ayush on Saturday said, the MoU will facilitate the development of Quality
Planting Material (QPM) of medicinal plants and herbs identified by NMPB, and will help in
the establishment of their nurseries for QPM.
Development, promotion, conservation, and cultivation of the appropriate medicinal plants in
different agro-climatic zones, including the threatened medicinal plant species and plants for
the high-altitude regions, will also be facilitated by the MoU.
The collaboration will support CSIR-NBRI in carrying out potential medicinal plant species
with high commercial value for the Germplasm collection/conservation and the establishment
of nursery and seed banks/gene banks, the ministry reported. The Ministry also said that
NBRI, while undertaking the survey of medicinal plants, will work in coherence with NMPB
in the desired direction.
"The outreaches of NMPB and its implementing agencies like State Medicinal Plants Boards
(SMPB's), Regional-cum-facilitation Centres will work together under the ambit of this
MoU," it added. NMPB, working under the Ministry of Ayush, is mandated to coordinate all
matters related to medicinal plants and to support Policies and Programs for the growth of
trade, export, conservation, and cultivation of medicinal plants.
Published in:News.Yahoo
CFTRI’s Immunity-Boosting Food For Children Awaits Approval
CSIR-CFTRI 05th June, 2021
Mysore/Mysuru: Mysuru-based Central
Food Technological Research Institute
(CFTRI), a Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) institute, has
come up with a couple of immune-boosting
food supplements for COVID-19 patients,
especially children. Speaking to SOM this
morning, CFTRI Director Dr. Sridevi
Annapurna Singh said that during the first
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wave, CFTRI had supplied nutritious food like Spirulina-based chikkies containing micro-
nutrients and protein.
“We supplied them to thousands of migrants who were going from one part of the country to
another during lockdown. We also gave them to healthcare and frontline workers in
Karnataka and as there is a probable threat for children in the third wave, we are coming up
with immunity-boosting supplements for little ones,” she said.
A couple of proposals have been sent to CSIR for approvals and the CFTRI will take a call on
child immuno-supplements after the approvals. “As it involves the children, there are some
protocols to be followed and such foods cannot be distributed directly to the children. Even
there are processes to be followed before such foods are subjected to clinical tests and trials.
These are not like Spirulina chikkies that suited all age-group adults,” she added.
A couple of food products that help boost immunity among children are in the pipeline at
CFTRI and tests need to be done on how these foods actually boost immunity, sources said
and added that the institution is awaiting approval from the CSIR. The CSIR has already
written to Chief Secretaries of all States offering help from CFTRI and other CSIR
laboratories to produce immunity-boosting foods. The CSIR is expecting approvals for this.
According to scientists and researchers at CFTRI, clinical and research results indicate that
COVID-19 pathogenesis includes two phases — suppression of innate immune response and
acute inflammation-driven damaging phase. Therefore, a better strategy to counteract the
SARS-CoV-2 infection is to boost the immune response by food supplements, they noted
Research evidence shows that many nutritional supplements from different spices, herbs,
fruits, roots and vegetables can reduce the risk or severity of a wide range of viral infections
by boosting the immune response, particularly among individuals with insufficient dietary
sources. The use of natural compounds and beneficial effects of certain nutrients such as zinc,
vitamin D, vitamin C etc. would provide alternative support in addition to COVID-19 therapy,
they said.
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Published in:Starofmysore
Delta variant led to most post-vaccine infections in Delhi
CSIR-IGIB 05th June, 2021
Variant Delta (B.1.617.2), the most pervasive
variant of the coronavirus in India,
constituted nearly three in four
breakthrough infections in Delhi, according
to a research study by scientists in Delhi.
The variant was also characterised by high
transmissibility, an accelerated surge in
infections and, the scientists say, “...prior
infections, high seropositivity and partial
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vaccination were insufficient impediments to its spread.” Breakthrough infections are instances
of people testing positive for the virus after getting vaccinated.
The study is yet to be peer-reviewed and appears as a pre-print and was authored by scientists
at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) and the National
Centre of Disease Control — two key labs of the Indian Sars Cov-2 Genomic Consortium
(INSACOG) that tracks the emergence of key variants of the coronavirus.
In 27 instances of breakthrough infections analysed, the scientists found that two lineages
dominated. B.1.617.1 (Kappa) comprised 8%, Delta was 76% and the remaining linked to
variants that belonged to broader “B.1 lineages”. However international variant Alpha, that in
previous studies has been associated with a spike in cases in Delhi in February and March was
absent in vaccination breakthrough-cases analysed.
The study also reports a new mutation in Delta called T478K that the scientists believe has a
role to play in allowing the coronavirus to better infiltrate human cells.
“Our data indicates B.1.617.2 shows high transmissibility and surges without any increase in
the Case Fatality Ratio (CFR). We estimate the transmissibility to be as much as 50% greater
than B.1.1.7. Viral load of B.1.617.2 appears to be higher than B.1.1.7 and based on data from
India and UK, so does vaccination break-through rate. B.1.617.2 is capable of creating very
fast rising outbreaks with vaccination breakthroughs,” they note in their study.
Anurag Agrawal, Director, CSIR-IGIB and among the authors of the paper said that while
the variant was extremely transmissible, there was no single super spreader event that
contributed to the rise of the Delta variant in Delhi. Previous studies had shown that the
farmer protests and religious gatherings had contributed to amplifying the Alpha variant in
North India. The latter variant has now been outcompeted by the Delta.
“We should be doing more studies on the vaccine effectiveness in India against various strains.
We must also assess the risk to various populations, by age, to decide on the dosage of
vaccine.” Dr Agrawal said.
Though India is seeing a decline overall in the case trajectory, the Delta variant has been
responsible for a surge of cases in the United Kingdom, as well as shown to reduce the efficacy
of vaccines.
A study in the medical journal Lancet, published on Thursday, comparing antibodies
generated due to vaccines in those afflicted by varying strains in the United Kingdom, found
that they were nearly six-fold reduced against B.1.617.2 relative to the original Wuhan-strain
of the virus. By comparison antibody levels were reduced just 2.6 times against Alpha when
compared to the Wuhan strain.
Studies by the ICMR have also shown that fewer antibodies were expressed in those
vaccinated with Covaxin and Covishield when their blood serum was tested against the Delta
strain in labs.
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Published in:Thehindu
PM Modi hails Indian scientists for 'Made in India' vaccines,
bolstering fight against Covid
CSIR 04th June, 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday
hailed the scientific community for 'Made in
India' Covid vaccines in a record time.
Addressing a meeting of the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Society, he reiterated gratitude to doctors,
medical staff, scientists, and corona warriors
for the outstanding work done in adverse
circumstances.
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He said that the country will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives. The
Prime Minister cited India's experience in the previous century to say that it used to wait for
years to lay its hands on innovations achieved abroad, but its scientists are now working
shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts outside.
"They are working at the same quick pace," he said. Noting that the world is grappling with
the biggest challenge in a century, he praised the scientific community, saying it is perhaps
unprecedented that vaccines were prepared within a year.
On the occasion, Modi reiterated his call for an "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-reliant) and
strong India, saying the COVID-19 crisis may have slowed its pace but our resolve remains
the same.
India wants to be self-reliant in a number of sectors, ranging from agriculture to astronomy,
disaster management to defence technology, vaccine to virtual reality, and biotechnology to
battery technology, he asserted.
He said India is now showing the way to the world in sustainable development and clean
energy, and is playing an important role in progress in other countries with its role in
software and satellite development.
The CSIR Society is part of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research under the
Ministry of Science and Technology. Its activities are carried out through 37 laboratories and
39 outreach centres spread across India.
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Published in:Indiatvnews
Himachal Pradesh govt to promote asafoetida cultivation in Chamba
district
CSIR-IHBT 04th June, 2021
CHAMBA: In a first, the farmers of
Himachal Pradesh’s one of the two
aspirational districts Chamba will cultivate
asafoetida, commonly known as heeng, at
higher reaches in Holi and Bharmaur regions
of the district giving an alternate to farmers
to diversify from the traditional crops and
multiply their income. Chamba's deputy
commissioner D C Rana told TOI on Friday
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that the district had received 500 heeng plants and another 1,000 plants would be arriving
soon in Pangi region.
A senior scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) -Institute of
Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) said the seedlings were prepared through either
tissue culture or direct sowing of seeds and farmers were given a year-old plants.
Chamba along with Sirmour have been tagged as aspirational districts by the central
government. The aspirational districts are considered backward on various parameters,
including education, health, woman and child welfare and agriculture.
Rana said the heeng production begins after five years and fetches anything around Rs 8 to 9
lakh net profit per hectare. He said that the administration will also set up processing units for
the produce in Chamba.
Published in:Timesofindia
Jammu & Kashmir now Shows Interest about WB CSIR-CMERI OEU
Technology
CSIR-CMERI 04th June, 2021
Kolkata, Jun 4 (UNI) After several other
States in the plains, MSME DI Jammu along
with Federation Chamber of Industries
Kashmir (FCIK) has now shown its interest
in the CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur developed
Oxygen Enrichment Unit (OEU) technology,
which is capable of serving as a ready means
of solution to the oxygen supply crisis in the
rugged mountainous region.
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Today, MSME DI, Jammu along with FCIK, SIDBI, the representatives of several MSME
stakeholders along with start-ups joined a webinar on the Oxygen Enrichment Unit
technology, where the CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur Director, Prof (Dr.) Harish Hirani was the
main speaker.
Prof. (Dr.) Hirani focussed on the indigenously developed technology of Oxygen Enrichment
Unit (OEU) by the Institute and said that this may be the most effective available solution for
Oxygen Therapy. Speaking about the different masks being used for the therapy through
concentrators, he mentioned that there may be potential risk of spreading of infection from
the open mouth and nose during the exhaling and coughing of patients to the surroundings.
This situation may be available even at an Isolation Centres. As such, using N95 Masks or
NIV Masks may be the better option to save others from infection during such therapy. Along
with proper masks appropriate level of flow and right percent of Oxygen (FiO2) are also
necessary.
CSIR-CMERI developed indigenous technology may prove to be very much effective. The
comparison of the Institute developed OEU shows significant results on several parameters
against the standard concentrators available in the market in terms of Higher Flow Rate,
FiO2 level, consistent performance for a longer period, ability to work on High Altitude.
This would be extremely helpful in enclosed spaces such as Isolation Wards. In coming days
OEU will be required as a domestic household item for every home. The technology has
already been transferred to 13 Business Enterprises and they are steadily rolling their product
into the market Sh. Saheel Allaqband, Assistant Director, MSME DI, Jammu appreciated the
efforts of CSIR-CMERI for developing the indigenous technology and spreading the
awareness to all stakeholders of the society.
Applauding the indigenous technology developed by CSIR-CMERI, he stressed upon the
futuristic perspective as he found the technology containing the potential to fulfil the needs of
the people of Jammu & Kashmir. He also requested Prof. (Dr.) Hirani to attend similar
programmes which may be arranged by them with the medical fraternity of the territory in
the coming days.
Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Dy. Director MSME- J&K said, the webinar has been very fruitful and
thanked Prof. (Fr.) Hirani for sharing very valuable information to the MSME people and the
industries of the J&K State and requested him for exploring the possibilities of on boarding
the maximum number of MSMEs through the Institute developed technology for the benefit
of the society as well as for mutual prospects of all stakeholders.
Sanjeet Verma, Incharge, SIDBI-J&K explained the financial assistance under the new
schemes of SIDBI particularly SHWAS & AROG for containing the spread of the pandemic
through healthcare equipment and pharmacy products for the MSME sectors.
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Published in:Uniindia
Delta variant of coronavirus most predominant in Varanasi, adjoining
areas: Study
CSIR-CCMB 04th June, 2021
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The Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi and the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad have collaboratively sequenced genomes of
coronavirus variants in Varanasi and adjoining areas. They have discovered at least seven
major strains of coronavirus circulating in these regions, with the most predominant variant
being the B.1.617 or the 'Delta' variant.
The Multidisciplinary Research Unit headed at BHU collected samples from Varanasi and
areas around the city, mostly in April 2021.
The team at CCMB sequenced these samples and found out that at least seven major variants
were circulating the region. As many as 130 samples were sequenced in the joint study.
"The B.1.617.2 variant (aka Delta variant) was the most common one in the samples studied.
They were found among 36 per cent of the total samples. Other VoCs such as the B.1.351,
detected in South Africa for the first time, was also found in this area," said Dr Rakesh
Mishra, Advisor, CCMB.
"This variant was also reported to be one of the major drivers of the second Covid-19 wave
in India," said Prof Singh, who heads the Multidisciplinary Research Unit at BHU.
The study confirms yet again that the Delta variant is the most widespread coronavirus
variant in the country right now.
Published in:Indiatoday
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Published in:Chamakta Aaina
CSIR-NML 04th June, 2021
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Published in:Amar Ujala
CSIR-IHBT 04th June, 2021
Rural Facilitation Centre inaugurated at CIMFR
CSIR-CIMFR 03rd June, 2021
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A Rural Facilitation Centre - Joint Initiative of CSIR-CIMFR and MeitY was inaugurated by
Dr. Pradeep K. Singh at CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-
CIMFR), Barwa Road Campus today.
The centre has been established under R&D project sponsored by the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
Rural Facilitation Centre would provide information about government schemes and facilitate
the scheme's benefits,Computer and skill development training,Job portal for technicians and
other job seekers.
Besides, it would provide Gramin E-Bazar facilities for selling of village products
(agricultural products, handicraft items, herbal products/medicine, etc.) through e-commerce
portal to establish link between farmers and sellers.
IT would help in soil testing and issuing soil health cards and advice on suitable doses of
fertilizer, said Dr PK Singh, director of CIMFR.
Prof. V. Kumar, IIT(ISM); Dr. G. Banerjee, Dr. S.K. Mandal, Dr. G.M. Prasad, Dr. S.K.
Chaulya, Dr. Sidharth Singh and other Senior Scientists and staff of CIMFR were present
during the inaugural session.
Published in:Dailypioneer
UoH Alumnus appointed Director of the DST-CeNS
CSIR-NCL 03rd June, 2021
Hyderabad: Dr. BLV Prasad, an alumnus of
the University of Hyderabad (UoH), and
Chair, Physical and Materials Chemistry
Division of CSIR-National Chemical
Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), has been appointed
as the Director of the Centre for Nano and
Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru. Dr.
Prasad completed his M.Sc. Chemistry at the
UoH and later obtained PhD from the
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university in 1997 working on the molecule-based magnetic materials and theoretical
understanding of spin coupling in conjugated and non-conjugated organic radicals, the UoH
in a press release said on Thursday.
He started working in the area of nanomaterials during the two post-doctoral stints at Tokyo
Institute of Technology, Japan, followed by Kansas State University (KSU), USA.
At NCL his group is working on novel methods to prepare metal nanoparticles, nanoparticle
and molecular self-assemblies and their applications, the release said, adding that Dr. Prasad is
a fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences. The
CeNS is an autonomous research institute under the Department of Science and Technology,
and is engaged in materials research at all relevant length scales.
Published in:Telanganatoday
Meril manufactures commercial kits for CCMB
CSIR-CCMB 03rd June, 2021
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 2
(ANI): A simple and fast method of dry
swab-based direct RT-PCR has been
developed by CSIR's constituent lab Centre
for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB),
Hyderabad. The method, which has been
approved by ICMR based on their
independent validation, is a simple variation
of the existing gold standard RT-PCR
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method and can easily scale up the testing by 2 to 3-fold with no new investment of resources.
"In this method, one can simply break open the cells by using appropriate buffer solution and
use them for RT-PCR directly. There is no need for separate steps of RNA extraction and
purification," said Dr Vinay Nandicoori, Director, CSIR-CCMB.
Dr Rakesh Mishra, Advisor, CSIR-CCMB said: "RNA extraction, even with automation, takes
4 hours for roughly 500 samples. Viral Transport Medium (VTM) and RNA extraction both
add a significant burden on money and time required for mass testing for coronavirus. We
believe this method has the potential of bringing the costs and time of testing by 40-50
percent in all kinds of settings." CSIR-CCMB has tied up with Meril Diagnostics, for
commercially scaling up the dry swab-based tests across diagnostic labs in the country. Meril's
Extraction-free Dry Swab Kit can be used to isolate the viral RNA from dry swab samples.
These isolates can then be directly used for RT-PCR, according to a release by the company.
"We are the first company to commercially launch the dry swab kit. We truly believe the use
case for the dry swab collection sample technique is very large. It is imperative in these times
to get a quick RT-PCR result and this method helps in doing so by eliminating the lengthy
RNA extraction process. We believe this will help scale testing in India, and help government
and private labs in reducing their turn around time. This is the need of the hour", says
Sanjeev Bhatt, Vice President - Corporate Strategy, Meril.
Meril is currently equipped to manufacture 2 crore kits a month. Each kit suffices for 100
tests. Using these kits, each test will cost between Rs 45-60, the company said. The Centre for
Cellular and Molecular Biology or CCMB is an Indian fundamental life science research
establishment located in Hyderabad that operates under the aegis of the Council of Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Founded in 2007, Meril is an Indian-origin, global medical device company that is dedicated to
the innovation, design and development of novel, clinically relevant and state-of-the-art
devices.
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Published in:Bignewsnetwork
Pune’s BJMC is central coordinating lab for genome sequencing of
SARS-CoV-2 virus
CSIR-IGIB 03rd June, 2021
Considering that SARS-CoV-2 variants are
likely to evolve, the state has taken a
proactive step by identifying Pune’s B J
Government Medical College as the central
coordinating lab for genome sequencing.
With 3,600 samples being sequenced in May
this year, state authorities will soon get a
clear picture related to the district-wise
prevalence of the variants.
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“We are actively searching for any new variant that may have emerged last month,” said a
state Health department official.
Coronavirus (RNA virus) has a tendency to mutate as it makes more copies of itself. Most of
the mutations are not significant but some have resulted into new SARS-CoV-2 variants
leading to cluster outbreaks. Taking up genome sequencing and strengthening this
surveillance is crucial now to check for virulence, said state health authorities.
The state Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has now tied up with
CSIR-Institute of Integrative and Genomic Biology (IGIB) for genome sequencing of
samples from across 36 districts for a period of three months.
A government resolution signed by Additional Chief Secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas has
estimated that approximately Rs 1.62 crore would be required for this exercise. With BJMC as
the central coordinating laboratory, efforts are underway to ensure that a minimum of 11,000
samples are sent in these three months, Dr Murlidhar Tambe, dean of B J Medical College
and Sassoon General Hospital, told The Indian Express.
The idea is to remain a step ahead of this virus, said Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, head of the
department of microbiology at B J Medical College and state coordinator for genome
sequencing. It has largely been due to the efforts of researchers here that mutations in the
spike protein of SARS-CoV2 virus were first identified after the outbreak in Amravati in
February this year.
However, with reports indicating that the outbreak of the second wave in the state was
primarily due to the B.1.617.2 variant (now termed as Delta by the World Health
Organisation), Pune’s B J Medical College was soon designated as the central coordinating
laboratory for genome sequencing in Maharashtra. BJMC lab is also part of the Indian SARS-
CoV-2 Genomic Consortia to help with genome sequencing.
The government lab has also performed 4.37 lakh tests to detect Covid-19, of which 3.83 lakh
are RT-PCR tests and 54,023 are rapid antigen tests. “The antigen tests are important for
triage of patients so that they can be immediately shifted to either Covid or non-Covid ICU,”
said Dr Karyakarte.
Maharashtra has till date reported over 57.61 lakh Covid-19 cases and 96,198 deaths.
According to state Health department experts, the aim is now to quickly identify and detect
any new variant and be on our guard against the mutants in case there is another wave that
may unfold.
“Each district has its own coordinator… 100 samples of the RNA virus isolated from the
Covid positive sample have to be stored in dry ice and sent to CSIR-IGIB for genome
sequencing,” said Dr Karyakarte. Dr Anurag Agarwal, director of CSIR-IGIB, said that new
variants will keep coming up and a few will be important. “We are providing sequencing as a
service and are part of continued genome surveillance activities,” he said.
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Published in:Indianexpress
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Published in:The Hindu, Telangana Today
CSIR-CCMB 03rd June, 2021
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21
Published in:Sakshi, V6
CSIR-CCMB 03rd June, 2021
Meril manufactures commercial kits for CCMB’s Dry Swab
Direct RT-PCR tests
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22
Published in:The Sentinel, Guwahati Hills Time
CSIR-CMERI 03rd June, 2021
CSIR-NCL lab leverages Ayurveda for safe drinking water technology
CSIR-NCL 02nd June, 2021
The novel hybrid technology called
'SWASTIIK' involves boiling as a result of
pressure reduction and use of natural oils
having antimicrobial properties
NEW DELHI : With water-borne diseases
majorly contributing to India’s disease
burden, the CSIR-National Chemical
Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) at Pune has come
up with a new technique for disinfecting
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water by using natural oils. “Disinfection of water is essential for removing pathogenic
microorganisms that are responsible for causing a number of water-borne diseases. However,
the common drawbacks of chemical methods of disinfection, such as chlorination, include the
formation of harmful or carcinogenic by-products," according to a statement issued by the
ministry of science and technology on Wednesday.
This comes against the backdrop of the National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) issuing an
advisory to states and Union territories to monitor and survey water quality to ensure potable
water in the wake of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic across India.
“Scientist Dr V.M. Bhandari and his group at CSIR-NCL Pune, with support from the Water
Technology Initiative of the department of science and technology (DST), government of
India, has developed the novel hybrid technology called "SWASTIIK", which involves boiling
of a liquid as a result of pressure reduction (cavitation) and also uses natural oils having
antimicrobial properties," the ministry stated.
Given the importance of safe drinking water, the government under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
aims to ensure assured tap water supply to all rural households, or "Har Ghar Jal", by 2024.
Four crore households have been provided with tap water connections since the JJM was
announcement on 15 August 2019.
“This technology can eliminate harmful bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains,
economically. It not only integrates Indian traditional knowledge of Ayurveda for complete
disinfection of water but also may offer possible health benefits of natural oils," the ministry
stated.
An investment of around ₹1 trillion is to be made this year for drinking water supply in rural
areas. In July 2019, the government had formed a new ministry, Jal Shakti, to address all water
issues in the country. The Jal Shakti ministry was formed by integrating it with other existing
ministries, such as water resources and the ministry of drinking water and sanitation.
“The technique used—hydrodynamic cavitation—combines chemistry, biology, and chemical
engineering, along with natural resources in the form of natural oils and plant extracts. The
process, which draws inspiration from Indian traditional knowledge, has resulted in increased
efficiency and reduced cost of water treatment. The team achieved complete elimination for
gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive S. aureus bacteria, and even antibiotic-resistant or
difficult opportunistic pathogenic bacteria typically in 5-10 minutes," the ministry added.
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Published in:Livemint
MSME-DI Indore holds webinar on opportunities for MSMEs in
Oxygen enrichment
CSIR-CMERI 02nd June, 2021
New Delhi, Jun 2 (KNN) To help augment the production of Oxygen amidst Covid pandemic,
the MSME Development Institute, Indore organized a webinar on ‘Oxygen Enrichment Unit -
Opportunities & Scope for Indian MSMEs’ in association with Laghu Udyog Bharti, MP;
Indian Medical Association, MP and Inclusive Growth foundation.
On the occasion, Jt. Director, MSME, DI, Indore B C Sahu highlighted various schemes of
the government to solve problems faced by MSMEs and to also provide avenues to the
MSMEs entrepreneurs and start-ups. He also encouraged the entrepreneurs for setting up of
plants at public and private hospitals in PPP mode for availing a number of schemes of the
government.
Prof. (Dr.) Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute,
Durgapur who was invited as the key speaker, stressed that the need for oxygen is being
fulfilled by and large at the moment but a collaborative response from engineering as well as
the medical fraternities and MSME is essential for a long and sustainable solution. Working
together would make India ‘Atmanirbhar’ in real spirit and we would be self-sufficient in
oxygen.
''There would be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders of society when science is linked
to the society with a collaborative approach,'' he added.
He also discussed the modalities of long-term sustainable solutions. In this regard, he stressed
upon the need for availability of resources at smaller health care centres in the rural areas. He
also talked on the scarcity of trained healthcare personnel and para medical staff who are
more vulnerable to the infection.
Produced by Science Communication and Dissemination Directorate, (SCDD), CSIR, Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi
25
Mahesh Gupta, President, Laghu Udyog Bharti, MP congratulated MSME for arranging the
webinar in association with them and especially CSIR-CMERI for coming up with such a
technology. He termed the technology as a ‘panacea’ at the time of crisis and urged for its
greater adoption in rural areas.
He also said that the need for the product would continue to remain in future. Hence, Laghu
Udyog Bharti is making efforts to maximise the manufacturing of such products utilizing
government assistance under different schemes for making the country self-sufficient in
oxygen.
Dr. Anoop Nigam, President, IMA MP assured all possible support from IMA in the
collaborative efforts of the Institute for development of such products for the MSMEs.
Dr. Arvind Jain, IMA, MP termed the product as a ‘life saving device’ and congratulated Prof.
Hirani for development of such a product in the country as a number of entrepreneurs have
already taken the technology from CSIR-CMERI. ''It is a remarkable step towards
Atmanirbhar Bharat,'' he added.
Produced by Science Communication and Dissemination Directorate, (SCDD), CSIR, Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi
26
Published in:Knnindia
Produced by Science Communication and Dissemination Directorate, (SCDD), CSIR, Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi
27
Published in:Swadesh
CSIR-CMERI 02nd June, 2021
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28
Published in:Dainik Jagran
CSIR-IHBT 02nd June, 2021
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29
Published in:The Hindu
CSIR-CCMB 02nd June, 2021
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