Chief Secretary holds meet with STP Pune
Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, today chaired a meeting with the officers from Science and Technology Park, Pune, for exploring ideas about building an innovation ecosystem and culture in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pertinently, Science and Technology Park, Pune, one of the first Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Parks (STEPs) set up in 1986 by National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) of Department of Science and Technology (DST), provides technology inputs for various governmental and industrial development projects, development of new technologies and its commercialization besides imparting need based high end training.
Chief Secretary listed out few areas where the government of JK will be interested in and asked the UT officers to study the projects and services of STP which would be tailor-made to provide solutions to various issues. He said that JK would like to partner in application of new and existing technologies for specially made clean solutions to various pressing issues like biomass utilization, sewage treatment, plastics treatment, Kangri design and house construction.
Chief Secretary said that as JK comprises of around 55 percent of forest area, it produces a large quantity of biomass and would require the modern technological interventions to be introduced for capitalizing on this low hanging fruit and conversion into some form of energy. He said that second area of interest would be converting plastics into a usable commodity as plastics don’t gel with the beauty of Kashmir.
Dr. Mehta also emphasized upon developing a people friendly Kangri design saying that the present design of Kangri has numerous disadvantages causing several mishaps in the past.
He said that JK needs some immediate scientific interventions that would help in sewage treatment during the Amarnath Yatra where more than six lakh pilgrims are expected to visit this year.
Chief Secretary added that business incubation and entrepreneurship development besides skill training and awareness programs will be another area of interest. He said that in near future there will be huge investment with several reputed industries coming up in the UT which will automatically create jobs for 3-4 lakh people. He said there is a need for skill gap analysis so that we can create highly skilled and employable youth for meeting the industry demand. He said that focus will be laid on specialized training ecosystem to provide a job ready workforce to the industry.
He directed the officers from JK to study the cyber critical technology development and S&T innovation programmes and funding in line with National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovators to support entrepreneurs and innovators from idea stage to scale-up stage.
Chief Secretary said that knowledge partnering with STP will be a milestone towards great learning as they would be bringing in technologies that are currently ahead of normal technologies.
Director General, Dr Rajendra Jagdale, said that STP would help the government to build a deep research and innovation ecosystem besides enhancing skill development environment through ITI up gradation. He said that they would provide technology infusion for various policies and services like tourism, disaster management, environmental protection, municipal waste processing, agri waste to diesel among other things and would play the role of nodal Innovation agency for S&T based multi-sectoral transformations.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Higher Education, Principal Secretary Skill Development, Principal Secretary School Education, Director Industries Kashmir and other officers from Science and Technology Park while Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Principal Secretary YSS, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce, Secretary Tourism participated online.
Inaugurates Public Lounge, VC Hall at DC Office Srinagar
Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta on Thursday inaugurated Public Lounge and Video Conference Hall here at DC Office Complex, Srinagar.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P.K Pole, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad were present on the occasion.
The Chief Secretary took a round of the newly created public facilities in the DC office Complex Srinagar.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary said creating Public Lounge for the people visiting DC Office Srinagar is a good step which will give a respectable waiting place.
The Public Lounge is a state of Art facility which apart from providing people a decent seating place will help the visitors connect with different sections of the DC office.
Moreover, officers can meet the delegations at Public Lounge itself.
A landline number 01942452182 has also been installed through which people can seek prior appointment to save their Time. Apart from Public meeting, people can seek special appointments in case of urgent matters.
Chief Secretary said the creation of public infrastructure and providing better facilities to the people visiting govt offices for grievance Redressal is among the top priorities of the government.
Regarding Video Conferencing facility that has been completed during the year 2021-22 and is equipped with modern audio/visual system, the Chief Secretary said such digital media are important in the present age of technology for smooth conduct of pubic business in minimum timeline.
On the occasion, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the officers and officials of the DC Office Srinagar to discharge duties with added zeal and dedication. He exhorted upon them to be sensitive and responsive to the problems of citizens and put in their best efforts to mitigate the same.
The Additional District Development Commissioner, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Dr Syed Haneef Balkhi and Faz lul Haseeb, besides other senior Officers of District Administration were also present on the occasion.
