Dept of Biotechnology setting up labs in North East

The Ministry of Science and Technology today said it is setting up a chain of laboratories in the North East to enable thorough parity in terms of service and facilities to the people.
Stating this while delivering the inaugural address at the third edition of the India International Science Festival here, Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan said that the Centre was spending a "significant" portion of the budget to develop the North East.
"Our Department of Bio-Technology is working to establish a series of laboratories in North East and there are a number of programmes. We spend a very significant portion of our budget only in the North East", he said.

"We want to ensure that each and every part of the country and of course, the North East all develop to a level where we can say that there is thorough parity in terms of the services and facilities available to people", he said.
Referring to the four-day Science festival, he said it has a unique Science Village wherein the last two editions have been inviting children from the most remote villages of India, to participate along with their teachers.
"Over 2,000 young children are participating in the science village and they will have access to the best of things happening in science. For the first time they will have real exposure to science", he said.

Vardhan said that Prime Minister (Narendra Modi's) passion is to develop the North East and to see whether the region develops in totality and there is a thoroughly inclusive approach there, he said.
Several science teachers have come from North East and during the conference here would learn the new dimensions of science teaching, the Minister said.