New Delhi, May 26 (IANS). Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh held a detailed meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata, in which it was decided that all major central schemes related to science, research, innovation and startups will be implemented in West Bengal with immediate effect.
Two major decisions of regional importance were also taken in the meeting. These include undertaking a special study on arsenic poisoning in the affected districts of West Bengal through CSIR institutions and undertaking collaborative clinical and drug trial-related research on cancer and antimicrobial treatments involving premier scientific institutions, government medical colleges, cancer hospitals and medical networks linked to AIIMS.
Dr Singh said that West Bengal has a strong scientific and academic ecosystem, with institutions under the Ministry of Science and Technology already functioning across the state and contributing to advanced areas of research.
He said the state also has immense potential for innovation-based collaboration involving scientific research, clinical trials and research institutes, medical colleges and healthcare networks.
A major focus of the discussions was the implementation of student-centric and women-centric schemes of the Department of Science and Technology in schools and colleges of West Bengal.
It was decided that INSPIRE, Vigyan Jyoti, KIRAN schemes would be expanded and implemented in a coordinated manner, so as to strengthen scientific temper, innovation and participation of students and women in science and technology sectors.
Dr Singh said that a new model of science-based regional development can be created in Eastern India by combining scientific institutions, academia, healthcare infrastructure and innovation ecosystem.
Further, it was also decided that a preliminary coordination meeting would be convened within the next few days involving senior officials of the State Science and Technology Department and Central Scientific Ministries and Departments to prepare a roadmap for implementation.
–IANS
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