ARUNACHAL PRADESH: ADOPT A ‘LAB TO LAND’ POLICY TO BENEFIT THE SOCIETY: VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday suggested the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) community to adopt a ‘lab to land’ policy to benefit the society, stating that research and invention must add values to the life of the common people.

The scientists must guide the people towards alternate ways with innovative ideas. The new technologies must be transferred to the field, stated the Vice President while addressing the research scholars, students and faculty members of NERIST at Nirjuli.

Suggesting the students, research scholars and faculty members to find solutions to the challenges of the people of the region, he said connecting with life of the common mass, they must explore ways to address the problems, such as landslides, etc in the region. The Vice President also exhorted that the research scholars must stay in farmer’s house for six months, interact with agrarian community and find solutions to their challenges. He also advised them to work on skill upgradation. In his tweet, Naidu said, “NERIST has a special responsibility to take the lead in developing environment-friendly technologies in the wake of climate change and its adverse impact. Development & environment need not be antithetical to each other, but must foster a complementary and symbiotic relationship.”

The Vice President also said with the aim to enhance the levels of employability of our youth, the Government had launched skill development programme. This is where institutions like NERIST can play a more active role and impart skill-based education at various levels.

“Scientists and technocrats cannot remain in ivory towers. Science has no meaning if it does not the touch the lives of the people. All scientific endeavors must aim at finding solutions to the problems faced by the society,” he emphatically said. “Hope you will give your best with all honesty and be proud of all your ventures in life and contribute significantly towards the avowed task of nation building,” the Vice President added.

State Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra, who is also the President of NERIST Society, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Education Minister Honchun Ngandam, Chief Secretary Satya Gopal, Director General of Police SBK Singh and senior officers of State Govt were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Director of NERIST Prof H S Yadav gave an overview of the Institute and presented a paper on ‘Role of Peroxides in organic transformation’, while Dr Aditi Bhadra presented on ‘Climate change and its future impact’. Dr Pradep Kumar presented the paper on ‘Role of Antimicrobials on human health’ and students of NERIST presented on ‘Village adoption programme’. The students also briefed about the outreach programmes of NERIST’s NSS Unit, environmental, cleanliness campaigns and blood donation camps.