Lok Sabha Question No. 3760 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: North East Institute of Science and Technology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3760

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017)

## NORTH EAST INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 3760.  SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of the North East Institute of Science and Technology
- located in Jorhat;
- (b) the total amount of money allotted for various researches in the institute by the Central Government;
- (c) the number of vacant posts that exists in this institute presently and the way in which the institute has benefited the local population; and
- (d) the  number  of  their  patent  products  that  are  feasible  for  commercial purposes presently?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

- (a) The CSIR-North East Institute of  Science  &  Technology  (CSIR-NEIST)  at Jorhat,  Assam  was  established  in  the  year  1961  as  a  multidisciplinary laboratory.  Its  major  thrust  of  R&D  activities  has  been  to  develop indigenous technologies by utilizing the immense natural wealth of India in general and NE region in particular and thus contributing to the region as well as country's industrial growth and economic prosperity. Over the years,  the  Institute  has  generated  several  technologies  in  the  areas  of Biological  Sciences,  Chemical  Sciences,  Engineering  Sciences,  Geoscience  and  Materials  Science  of  which  about  60%  were  commercial successes  culminating in setting up of various industrial ventures throughout  the  country.  The  Institute  also  developed  expertise  in  the areas  like  Natural  Products  Chemistry,  Drugs  and  Drug  intermediates, VSK Cement Plant Technology, Agro-technologies, Petroleum microbiology  and  petrochemicals,  Crude  oil  transportation,  Paper  and paper products, Beneficiation chemicals, Ecology and Environment studies, Geotechnical investigations, Foundation design engineering, Soil and Building materials, Membrane Technologies, Geoscience and seismic surveillance studies, etc.
- (b) CSIR-NEIST has received Rs 368.76 crore from different central government  agencies  including  CSIR  during  April  2012  to  July  2017  to carryout various research activities.
- (c) The number of vacant posts that are there in this institute presently are as follows:

| GROUP                                    |   VACANT POSITION |
|------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Scientist (Group-IV)                     |                37 |
| Technical (Group-III)                    |                30 |
| Technical (Group-II)                     |                71 |
| Technical (Group-I)                      |                24 |
| Administrative staff of different levels |                72 |
| TOTAL                                    |               234 |

CSIR-NEIST has been known for the technologies developed and disseminated to the society. Such few technologies are- Liquid deodorant cleaner,  Low  dust  Chalk  Pencil,  Herbal  Anti-Arthritis  ointments,  Herbal fungi destruct ointment, TP-16 Bio-fertilizer etc. The institute has worked under  CSIR-800  and  other  socio-economic  upliftment  programmes  in which  different  training  Programmes  on  Mushroom  Cultivation,  Spawn Production &  Processing, Fibre Extraction &  Product  Development, Citronella Cultivation & Processing, Vermi-compost Technology etc. were organized in various places of the region. In the area of human resource development,  the  institute  has  awarded  PhDs  in  various  disciplines  of science  by  various  universities  to  the  aspiring  students  of  the  country. Moreover,  a  series  of  programmes  like  motivational  programme  the students and science faculties, summer/winter trainings, training for skill development in the region were organized from time to time.

- (d) CSIR-NEIST,  since  inception  has  patented  more  than  50  technologies/ products. It is worthwhile to mention that about 40 of these technologies/ products  have  been  successfully  commercialized  by  various  industries/ companies. At present seven patented technologies/ products/ processes are ready for transfer/ commercialization of which four, namely 'Vertical Shaft Kiln Mini Cement Plant', 'Anti-Fungal formulation', 'Herbal Mosquito Repellent Vaporizer' and 'Process for Bioremediation of contaminated soil' have been transferred for commercialization to more than 30 industries/companies.

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