“One Week One Lab” program organized at CSIR-IHBT Palampur

“One Week – One Laboratory” is being organized at CSIR-IHBT, Palampur from
February 20-25, 2023 to showcase its technological breakthroughs to the general
public. The campaign was launched on 6 January 2023 by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union
Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Earth Sciences,
Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and
Space, Government of India. During this programme, 37 premier institutes of CSIR
are showcasing the successes achieved by their technological achievements and
innovations across India.
The program was inaugurated by Shri Ashish Butail, Hon’ble Chief Parliamentary
Secretary, Government of Himachal Pradesh. In his address, he said that accepting
the challenges, the state government is making sincere efforts to strengthen
entrepreneurs, start-ups, farmers and general public. He appreciated the important
work done by CSIR-IHBT in this field and urged the institute to contribute in future
also. Shri Butail ji invited the industries to invest in the state and assured them of
government support to generate livelihood for the people in the state. He further said
that the State Level Holi Fair at Palampur would provide a platform to new start-ups
and entrepreneurs to showcase their products.
Earlier, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director of the institute while welcoming the chief guest
and the participants, threw light on the purpose of the “One Week – One Laboratory”
program. In his address, he told that the scientists of the institute have significantly
contributed towards self-reliance of farmers and entrepreneurs by developing
agricultural techniques of crops like asafoetida, saffron, stevia, lilium, cinnamon.
Distillation units were set up in different states to grow and process aromatic crops,
especially lavender and aromatic marigold.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Girish Sahni, Bhatnagar Fellow and former Director
General, CSIR emphasized on the need to change the ecosystem so that products
based on technologies developed in the lab can reach to the market. He said that
these developed technologies can be disseminated by setting up technology parks.
The special guest, Dr. M. P. Gupta, Managing Director, Deccan Healthcare Ltd.
Hyderabad also addressed the gathering and said that success is achieved only by
overcoming challenges. He believes that there is an urgent need for clarity,
simplicity, and regulatory policy reforms to help entrepreneurs.
Hon’ble Chief Parliamentary Secretary distributed planting material of ‘Mulethi’
(Glycyrrhiza glabra) to the farmers for commercial cultivation in the state for the first
time. Apart from this, seeds and planting material of various crops were also
distributed to farmers from different parts of the state. Beside releasing a booklet on
start-ups, the Hon’ble Chief Parliamentary Secretary also inaugurated the Plant

Tissue Culture Unit and Flower Show at the institute. MoUs were also signed on the
occasion for dissemination of technologies developed at CSIR-IHBT.