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Kerala floats new biotechnology policy
Monday, 10 November 2003, 20:30 IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government Monday released its new biotechnology policy that aims to aggressively promote agriculture, health, marine resources and industries in this bio-diverse state.
The document was released after the first meeting of the newly set up Kerala Biotechnology Board. Chief Minister A.K. Antony received the first copy from Agriculture Minister K.R. Gowriamma in the presence of Biotechnology Minister P.K. Kunjalikutty. Also present was a seven-member team that prepared the paper.
Antony said precious time had been lost by Kerala on the BT front while neighbouring states had progressed rapidly. "We hope that now that we have a laid down policy, it would be clearer what we intend to do."
The new policy aims to create a biotech knowledge base by establishing world-class centres of education and R&D and by upgrading existing institutions or by setting up new entities in the public and private sectors.
Also on the anvil are plans to enhance the value and quality of exports in the sector. The policy envisages promoting traditional tribal and ethnic knowledge by scientific validation and protecting intellectual property rights.
The government decided in August to set up a 
1 billion corpus fund for BT.
A working group named biotechnology commission under the chairmanship of M.S. Valiathan has been set up and is to meet here Tuesday.
It has also been decided to set up a single window clearance for all applications in the BT sector. The biggest incentive is that all BT companies would be now permitted to acquire agricultural land in excess of ceiling limits.
Government land would be provided at concessional rates. All such units would be exempted from stamp duty and registration fees.
Among the other sops that have been designed for companies investing in BT are that they would be given power at agricultural rates. The state would share public health data with these companies and suitable amendments would be made in the Industrial Disputes Act to facilitate shift work and employment of women.
Several state institutes will network to help the government in the BT sector.
Source: IANS
1 billion corpus fund for BT.
A working group named biotechnology commission under the chairmanship of M.S. Valiathan has been set up and is to meet here Tuesday.
It has also been decided to set up a single window clearance for all applications in the BT sector. The biggest incentive is that all BT companies would be now permitted to acquire agricultural land in excess of ceiling limits.
Government land would be provided at concessional rates. All such units would be exempted from stamp duty and registration fees.
Among the other sops that have been designed for companies investing in BT are that they would be given power at agricultural rates. The state would share public health data with these companies and suitable amendments would be made in the Industrial Disputes Act to facilitate shift work and employment of women.
Several state institutes will network to help the government in the BT sector.
Source: IANS