26-Nov-2021: Narayan Rane launches unique anti-bacterial fabric; Says, it will help create rural employment and contribute to environment protection

Union Minister for MSME Shri Narayana Rane today launched the unique anti-bacterial fabric developed by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, Jaipur, under KVIC. The fabric is treated with anti-bacterial agent extracted from cow dung which prevents bacterial growth in the fabric. Shri Rane said, this innovative fabric could be great use in hospitals and other medical facilities.

The Minister also lauded the innovative Khadi Prakritik Paint made from cow dung and the unique plastic-mixed handmade paper developed by the Institute. He said, the two products had great potential of creating rural employment while also contributing to environment protection. He said, all efforts would be made to take Khadi Prakritik Paint to every village of the country and project it as a model of sustainable employment.

Shri Rane said, Khadi Prakritik Paint is a unique product which can serve the twin objectives of employment generation as well as environment protection. It is eco-friendly and cost-effective. He added that his Ministry aims at setting up Khadi Prakritik Paint units in every part of the country that will give a big boost to government’s rural employment initiatives.

The Minister directed the officials to explore feasibility of setting up plastic-mixed handmade paper units in rural areas for creating local employment. He said, this handmade paper unit developed by KVIC will go a long way in fighting the menace of single-use plastic. On the one hand, this will clear the plastic waste from nature and on the other hand, it will create thousands of new employment in the handmade paper industry and strengthen the rural economy.

5-Oct-2021: Nanomedicine: Biomolecules for Human Health (NBHH-2021)Small Molecules, Big Opportunities!!

Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi recently organized an international conference via Virtual Platform on “Nanomedicine: Biomolecules for Human Health, Small Molecules: Big opportunities!”(NBHH-2021). It was jointly organized by Department of Botany and Zoology under the aegis of DBT Star College Scheme.

The inaugural session was graced by the Chief Guest, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, Prof P.C. Joshi and Principal, Prof Vibha S. Chauhan, who gave the welcome address. The appraisal of the conference, its theme, objectives and the post conference workshop on Nanomedicine was discussed by Convenor and Program Coordinator of DBT Star College Scheme, Prof. Anita Kamra Verma. The conference co-convener Dr. Renu Kathpalia invited Prof. P.C. Joshi to formally inaugurate the conference. At the onset, Prof. Joshi congratulated the organizing committee for conceptualizing such a relevant theme of the international conference and assembling such eminent National and International speakers. He also congratulated the college for establishing itself as Star College and getting grade “A” NAAC Accreditation. Prof Joshi acknowledged the fact that the organizing committee was taking full advantages of the available resources from the presentations at the Conference, full length manuscripts are to be published in the CSIR journal “Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics” with impact factor of 1.95. He also emphasized the concept of ‘Nano’ or ‘Parmanu - a tiny molecule or building block’ given by Maharshi Karnad.

The inaugural session was followed by the Plenary Session I- Radiation Nanomedicine/Nanovaccines, wherein Prof. V. S. Chauhan, Arturo Falaschi Emeritus Scientist, ICGEB gave a delivered a very lucid and insightful talk on "Vaccine Platforms: Delivery and Role of Nanotechnology". He discussed the different types of vaccines and its components and emphasised the role of formulation of nanostructures as a vehicle to deliver the vaccine. He explained about the nucleic acid based vaccine-DNA and RNA, and about the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system and peptide-based vaccines for Malaria.

Prof. Sunil Krishnan, spoke on “Radiation Therapy and Radio-diagnostics as Nanomedicine” elaborating the role of amalgamated gold nanoparticles and irradiation therapy for effectively treating pancreatic and hepatobiliary tumors. He further supported these findings with Monte-Carlo computational modelling and simulations. Dr. A.K. Mishra, DG, INMAS, spoke on “Radionuclides are Nano and Beyond: Application in Human Health”, Day 2 was set off with elan by our distinguished speaker Prof. Tymish Y. Ochulchanskyy presently at Shenzhen University, China enlightened the audience about “Merging Nanotechnology and Biophotonicsfor Imaging Guided Photo induced Therapy or Cancer”.

Faculty members, all over national and international universities and invited judges who judged the work of researchers according to international standards. The presentations were judged with a panel of eminent judges having expertise in their field. Prof Tapas Sen, UCLan, UK, Prof Reena Saxena, Kirori Mal College, and Prof Tinku Basu, Amity University diligently judged the posters. While, Dr Rajni Rani, ICMR, Dr Pratima Chaudhary, Amity University Dr Durba Pal, IIT Ropar, Dr NK Prasanna, CSIR-NIScPR and Dr Zeenat Iqbal, Jamia Hamdard, judged the Oral Presentations. The program was concluded with the gracious presence of Prof. Suman Kundu, Director, South campus, University of Delhi. He announced the results of oral and poster presentations. A total of 12 awards were given that included faculty members, research scholar and undergraduate students. One day post conference workshop was organised which dealt with principle of working and methodology with the help of short video of presenters.