A two day National Seminar on ‘Plant and Microbial Sciences: Achievements and Way forward’ under the aegis of UGC-SAP DRS II program sanctioned to the Department of Botany and funded by DST (SERB) and DBT, GoI was inaugurated today in the Brigadier Rajinder Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu.

On the occasion, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology, Palampur was the Chief Guest while Prof. Naresh Padha, Dean Academic Affairs, University of Jammu was the Guest of Honour and Prof. Absar Ahmed, a renowned nano-technologist from Aligarh Muslim University was the special guest. 

Presenting his keynote address Dr. Sanjay Kumar highlighted the importance of applied research and need for the technology to be farmer friendly. According to Dr. Kumar, there is a need for bio-prospection of plant and microbial resources of Himalayan region for boosting bio-economy. He emphasized on the tapping of the microbe and plant resources of Himalaya and understanding their physiology for the economic upliftment of the farmers of the country.

In his remarks, Prof. Naresh Padha spoke on the relevance of the seminar topic in the current scenario and elaborated on the importance of such congregations in the academic setups. Laying stress on the fact about the working culture of Department of Botany, he addressed that Botany is one such department of the University which is ready to take challenges like implementation of new schemes, policies and decisions in the University for the larger benefit of the society.

Earlier, Prof. Veenu Kaul, Head of the Department extended a formal welcome to all the delegates, invited speakers, guests of the seminar and said that this is the 5th consecutive seminar under SAP (DRS-II) being organized by Department of Botany, wherein the delegates from across the country and invited speakers from ICGEB, New Delhi; BSI, Kolkata; Aligarh Muslim University; CSIR-IIIM and University of Jammu are participating.

Prof. Namrata Sharma, Deputy Coordinator of SAP (DRS –II), introduced the details of the Special Assistance Programme to the delegates. She appraised the audience, about the various research activities carried out on the specific areas of Himalayan importance and infrastructural development with respect to modernization of labs in the department. And for this, the Department has got the fund to the tune of Rs. 84.50 lacs. According to Prof. Sharma the grant has helped to strengthen the Department making it ready to take more challenges in the field of botanical research and knowledge dissemination.

During the Inaugural Function, four superannuated Professors of the Department of Botany, Prof. V. K. Anand, Prof. A. K. Wakhlu, Prof. Geeta Sumbali and Prof. Rani Mangotra were also honored with Life Time Achievement Awards by the Botanical Club of the Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu. Special part of the Inaugural Function was the felicitation of Prof. I.A. Hamal posthumously. Mrs. Talat Koussar, wife of Late Prof. Hamal along with her family was honoured by the Department with Life Time Achievement award. The Department made Prof, I.A. Hamal Memorial Lecture an integral part of this seminar. Prof. Absar Ahmed of Aligarh Muslim University, special guest in this seminar delivered this lecture.

Prof. Susheel Verma, Organizing Secretary of the Seminar presented vote of thanks and Dr. Skarma Nonzum conducted the proceedings of the function.