Shillong, July 16: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
The Council is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country. With 102 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
To mark the foundation day the council the ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region (NEH) Region organized a tree plantation drive and a Covid vaccination drive.
The tree plantation drive witnessed plantation of more than 750 saplings perennial ornamental plants of different species like, Junipers, Ficus, Cammelia, Calliandra, Azellia etc were planted under the theme “Har Ped Par Med” as per the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to utilize the space lying as unused for clean and green environment.
The saplings were planted in an around the campus and in the ICAR Residential colony. The plantation drive was led by Dr. V. K. Mishra, Director of the institute along with staff of the institute and children following the COVID protocols.
Addressing the staffs Dr. VK Mishra said that the best way to mark the foundation day was by taking care of nature and hence planting of trees was organized and the vaccination drive will secure the protection of the people. The tree plantation drive was organized by Horticulture Section of the institute.
The entire scientific community of the institute and the staffs were present for the occasion. The awareness campaign and random sampling cum vaccination drive for Covid 19 was conducted in collaboration with state health department Ri- Bhoi district, with the motive to spread awareness about Covid 19 vaccination.
Families residing adjoining to the ICAR campus were also benefitted in getting tested and getting vaccine dose, more than 51% were tested by the random sampling and 80 % were vaccinated.
The vaccination programme hopes to attain maximum coverage by spreading awareness and complete vaccination of all the staffs and families baring persons with medical reasons. The programmes were organized abiding with the Covid 19 protocols.
