Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh mentions about CSIR’s Aroma Mission
The Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu advised the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to reinvent itself and turn futuristic while pursuing the science of the highest order. Participating in the 80th Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR in Delhi, he wanted CSIR laboratories and institutes to address challenges that require long-term scientific and technological solutions. In particular, Naidu wanted CSIR to bestow greater attention on agricultural research and come out with innovations, techniques and solutions to address the problems faced by farmers. He cited climate change, drug resistance, pollution, epidemic and pandemic outbreaks, among the challenges that need the focus of the scientific community.
In his address, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh asked CSIR and all the science departments to explore S&T innovations needed in the next ten years to make India globally competitive.
Referring to the Aroma Mission of CSIR, the minister said, it has made a difference in the lives of thousands of farmers across India and especially in Kashmir. He said, CSIR’s Aroma Mission introduced a superior variety of lavender in Kashmir, and today, a purple revolution is underway in Kashmir. He also mentioned that CSIR has introduced Heeng cultivation in India for the first time and introduced Saffron in non-traditional areas, apart from its well-known mark in the area of menthol mint.
Professor K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Director-General Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Dr. Shekhar Mande, Dr Anjan Ray, Head, CSIR-HRDG and senior scientists and officials of CSIR joined the event.
