Gujarat News: Diseases spreading from animals to humans have become a big challenge for the entire world today. According to a study, 60 to 70 percent of the diseases are such which first occur in animals and then reach humans. In view of this danger, the Government of India has started ‘One Health Mission’, the objective of which is to simultaneously protect humans, animals and the environment.

India does not need to depend on foreign countries – Amit Shah

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of BSL-4 bio-containment facility at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Science and Technology Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia were specially present. He said that now India will not have to depend on foreign countries for testing samples of the dangerous virus. This will not only speed up investigation but will also strengthen the scientific capacity of the country.

The first high level lab of the state government

Amit Shah said that this will be the second BSL-4 lab in the country after Pune-based National Institute of Virology, but the special thing is that this is the first such high level lab being built by any state government. This facility will meet all international standards and meet the needs of permanent biological security.

The cost is Rs 362 crores

This lab, to be built in an area of ​​11 thousand square meters at a cost of about Rs 362 crore, will become a strong center of biological security of the country. Here scientists will be able to do research on highly infectious and deadly viruses in a completely safe environment. Besides, new employment and research opportunities will also be created for the youth working in the biotechnology sector.

Unprecedented growth in the biotechnology sector in the last 11 years

The Home Minister said that there has been unprecedented development in India’s biotechnology sector in the last 11 years. While India’s bio economy was $10 billion in 2014, it is expected to increase to $166 billion by 2024-25. Startups, bio-incubators and patent filings have also increased manifold.

India is the largest vaccine manufacturer

Shah further said that today India is the largest vaccine manufacturing country in the world and 60 percent of the world’s vaccines are manufactured here. He described the increasing resistance to antibiotics as a ‘silent disaster’ and said that it is the responsibility of all of us to prevent infections and keep medicines safe for future generations.