In order to fund innovative products in India, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) director-general, Dr. Girish Sahni, announced that CSIR has rolled out a new scheme, setting aside Rs 400 crore, for the same.
Dr. Sahni made the announcement during a lecture he was delivering at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), marking the platinum jubilee celebrations of CSIR. He mentioned that the funds will also be used to take beneficial research from CSIR laboratories to the market.
In connection to various ongoing projects across CSIR laboratories in the country, he said that drugs would take upto several years to be introduced to the market as it is mandatory for it to be passed through procedures and tests and further added that the major challenge is to produce smart drugs. The funds will assist researchers to introduce the technologies developed in labs to markets which will be beneficial for people. He also stated that the funds were amassed from CSIR’s own revenues and more funds could be pumped in if and when required.
During the speech, he mentioned that CSIR has been spurring farmers to grow inter-season crops which could boost their income, advising them to grow hedges of herbal and aromatic plantations between Khariff and Rabi seasons. “We have identified crops to suit various states. In Telangana farmers can be asked to take up turmeric as an inter-season crop. Essential oils obtained from aromatic plants can be routed through cooperatives. This will not only improve the income of farmers but also increase the production of aromatic oils,” he said.
According to reports, he also commented on the fourth generation clot buster drug saying that it would only be available after about eight years from now.
