Foundation laid for NECTAR permanent campus in Shillong
Union minister shares vision to make North East the next saffron hub after Kashmir
Shillong, Mar 13: Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone for the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) permanent campus at Mawdiangdiang here on Thursday.
NECTAR, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, is dedicated to leveraging technology for socio-economic development in the North East.
Singh visited the NECTAR stalls at IIM Shillong and participated in the lighting of the lamp alongside dignitaries and officials from the State Government. The event included a welcome address and a presentation by Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma, Director General, NECTAR.
In his address, Singh called it a “landmark moment” in the journey of NECTAR. He noted that NECTAR was established in 2014 and has steadily expanded its reach across all northeastern states.
“NECTAR has grown from infancy under the patronage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today, with its own premises, this institution is setting a new benchmark in the transformation of the Northeast,” he said.
He also spoke about NECTAR’s role in drone technology and acknowledged its efforts in flood vulnerability assessments, using GIS and remote sensing technologies to mitigate risks in Morigaon, Dhubri and Majuli districts.
Saffron hub
He commended NECTAR’s initiatives, including Mission Saffron, launched in 2021, which is introducing saffron cultivation in the Northeast. “Last year, we secured the GI tag for Jammu and Kashmir saffron. Now, the Northeast has the potential to emerge as India’s next saffron hub,” he remarked.
He lauded the establishment of the STEM Education Lab in Shillong, developed in collaboration with IISER Pune and Smart Village Movement, which will empower students from 100 schools with cutting-edge technology like electronics, robotics, and 3D printing.
