Centre Bengal agree to expand science and innovation schemes in state

Kolkata, May 26 (PTI) Union Minister Jitendra Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday agreed to implement major central schemes related to science, research, innovation and startups in the state with immediate effect, a senior state government official said.
    The two leaders also decided to initiate a dedicated study on arsenic poisoning in affected districts through institutions under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), besides launching collaborative research on cancer treatment and antimicrobial therapies involving premier scientific and medical institutions, he said.
    "The discussions focused on strengthening coordination between the Centre and the state government in the fields of scientific research, biotechnology, innovation, clinical studies and startup development," the official told PTI.
    A PIB release stated that representatives and directors of institutions functioning under the Ministry of Science and Technology in West Bengal attended the meeting.
    The bureaucrat further stated that the Centre and the state agreed to expand several student-centric and women-centric programmes of the Department of Science and Technology in schools and colleges across the state.
    These include schemes such as INSPIRE, INSPIRE MANAK, Vigyan Jyoti, KIRAN and WISE, aimed at promoting scientific temperament, innovation and participation of students and women in science and technology sectors.
    "The idea is to create a stronger ecosystem for scientific learning and innovation-driven talent development among the youth," the official said.
    Issues concerning region-specific scientific interventions also figured prominently during the discussions, particularly arsenic contamination reported in several districts of the state.
    "It was decided that CSIR-led studies on arsenic poisoning would begin immediately. Collaborative research on cancer drugs, antimicrobial therapies and clinical trials involving government medical colleges, cancer hospitals and premier healthcare institutions will also be taken up," the official added.
    The meeting further decided that a coordination meeting involving officials of the state Science and Technology Department and Central scientific ministries would be convened shortly to prepare a roadmap for implementation of the proposed initiatives, the PIB release stated.
    The discussions reflected a shared commitment between the Centre and the West Bengal government to promote scientific growth, research collaboration and technology-driven public welfare initiatives in the state, it added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)