Lok Sabha Question No. 4532 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: R&D on Products from Indigenous Cows
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4532 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/03/2020

## R&D ON PRODUCTS FROM INDIGENOUS COWS

## 4532.   SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  invited  proposals  for  research  and  development  on prime products from indigenous cows (SUTRA-PIC), if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether any proposals in this regard have already been received and if so, the topics of such proposals; and
- (c) if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure that unbiased  and  impartial  indigenous  bovine  research  reaches  the  Government  without undermining its effectiveness?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी , वान और ौयोगक मंी और पृवी वान मंी डॉ हष वधन .

- (a)  &  (b):    Yes  Sir.  Ministry  of  Science  &  Technology  (S&T)  has  taken  an  initiative  to launch  a  National  Program  on  'Scientific  Utilization  through  Research  AugmentationPrime Products  from Indigenous Cows: SUTRA-PIC India Program'  as a collaborative program of    Department  of  Science  &  Technology  (DST),  Department  of  Biotechnology (DBT),  Council  of  Scientific  &  Industrial  Research  (CSIR),  Indian  Council  of  Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Ministry of AYUSH.

This coordinated program  aims  to work  towards convergence of expertise, resources and funds to meet the common objective - Scientific research on prime products of indigenous cows and its application in health, food, agriculture, nutrition etc. It provides a  platform  to  take  research  towards  its  logical  conclusion  with  scientific  validation  and certification of utility products.

In  this  endeavor,  project  proposals  have  been  invited  through  open  call  by Department  of  Science  &  Technology  (DST)  from  scientists/  academicians  of  Research Institutions, Academies, S&T capable voluntary organizations (NGO's) active in India with proven  record  of  accomplishment  in  executing  S&T  based  R&D  projects  covering following thematic areas:

1. Scientific research on uniqueness of Indigenous Cows.
2. Scientific  research  on  Prime-products  from  indigenous  cows  for  medicine  and health; agricultural applications; food and nutrition & utility items.

Under  open  call,  total  321  project  proposals  have  been  received  to  carry  out research & developmental work. The topics include, inter alia:

1. Development of eco-friendly cow dung based herbal mosquito repellent sticks/coil
2. Chemical  profiling  and  identification  of  bioactive  principle  in  Go-mutra  ark responsible for bio enhancing activity of antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs
3. Development of  technology  for  the  preparation  of  probiotic  fermented  milk  from indigenous  cow  of  Meghalaya  North-Eastern  part  and  Gujarat  Western  part  and evaluation of its bio-functional properties
4. Biotechnological approaches to enhance seed quality and productivity of pulse crops using prime product of indigenous cow
5. Development of targeted mass spectrometry-based prototype assay to estimate A1 and A2 milk of Deoni, Malnad Gidda and Holstein Friesian cattle
6. Bio-prospecting therapeutic potential of Himachali Pahari Cow Milk
7. Processing  and  characterization  of  Bovine  colostrum  of  Indigenous  origin  of  cow and its pharmaceutical and food products for pre-term Infancy, and Malnutrition Solution.

(c) To  ensure  that  unbiased  and  impartial  indigenous  bovine  research  reaches  the Government, new and innovative projects will be selected in competitive grant mode under SUTRA PIC program without undermining its effectiveness.  Such process mechanism will involve  screening,  finalization  and  implementation  of  projects  involving  subject  experts from  related  Ministries/Departments  and  S&T  knowledge  institutions/R&D  Labs  at National level.

Besides, National Innovation Foundation(NIF),  Ahmedabad  reinforces  bovine health  through  valorization  of  indigenous  veterinary  medications  for  livestock  ailments such as mastitis, ephemeral fever, bloat, enhancing milk yield, treatment of ectoparasite, endoparasite infestation and gynaecological disorders like anestrus, retention of placenta. NIF had value added sustainable indigenous technologies as general management practices among farmers for quality livestock health care in an economical manner.

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