In the first edition itself, the IYD had a roaring success worldwide and India created two world records. Since then, there is no going back in terms of celebrating the day with traditional gusto and ever vaulting spirits. Both President and Prime Minister led the nation on the day’s observation. To recap, the event’s increasing footprints, we decided to dedicate the current issue to IYD. And run a fleeting flashback of memories to revive afresh what happened in the previous three editions worldwide.

Also Read: Ayurveda: Mother of All Healings

In the same spirit, we are running a few items dedicated to the imperiled environment. As this year India hosts the International Environment Day with the theme to combat ever plaguing menace of plastic that had adversely impacted human lives and virtually choked waterways in variant degrees at many places.

India’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, in an exclusive interview to InnoHEALTH Magazine, appealed to the people to give up single use of plastic and expressed confidence that a perceptible and measurable difference in the country will be brought about on plastic pollution and other environmental issues on the occasion of the World Environment Day 2018.

He is also the Science and Technology Minister. In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a “Fit India” movement, focusing on the benefits of yoga, in ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Mr. Rajyavardhan Rathore, the newly appointed Minister for Information and Broadcasting, seems to have taken a cue from the PM to take the initiative forward. He recently tweeted a video of himself doing push-ups with the hashtag #HumFitTohIndiaFit. Since then, the fitness campaign zoomed into a debate and many people accepted the challenge and started posting their videos.

International awards winner filmmaker Janet Tobia who has won laurels for her documentary “Unseen Enemy” flags major concerns over lurking threats on the environment. She was interviewed by our magazine to highlight her views on the Environment Day. The Emmy award winner said that her movie Unseen Enemy examines why in the 21st century. We are experiencing a rash of diseases that were once only outbreaks but have now become full-blown epidemics. She is precisely right on her perceptions and the fresh outbreak of Ebola in Congo vindicates her concerns.

Amid growing number of violent incidents against young children, we interacted with UNICEF’s India In-charge. Fresh from her experience in managing emergency situations, Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque handles the tsunami of problems during her current assignment. She has disclosed that the Indian government in collaboration with UNICEF is developing a comprehensive plan on digital safety for children. Digital literacy is key to ensuring that all boys and all girls stay informed, engaged and safe online. There is a need to galvanize ‘zero tolerance’ towards violence against children.

In the current issue, we are also carrying a number of other articles like forthcoming plans to jail those found guilty of poaching medical data of patients; medical commission bill facing rough weather; monkeys spa in Japan; how to breathe; IC meeting highlighting the era of disruptions; latest trends in healthcare and many more interesting stories of the health sector.

Bharat Biotech Ltd. has won the award for taking to the market a vaccine for rotavirus disease. The vaccine, Rotavac, is currently licensed in two countries, while the grant of license is under process in 30 other countries. It has also been prequalified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), making it eligible for procurement by UN and other humanitarian organizations for their public health vaccine programmes.

Agappe Diagnostics Ltd. has won the award for commercializing an automated cartridge-based specific protein analyzer. The instrument has become highly popular as it is smaller and cheaper compared to similar machines available from multinational companies.

The President presented the awards to mark the 20th National Technology Day.

He also gave away national awards to five medium and small-scale enterprises for commercializing indigenous technologies. The winners are Synkromax Biotech, ANTS Ceramics, 3B Blackbio Biotech, Envision Scientific and Hind High Vacuum.

Synkromax got the award for marketing a life-saving implant developed by IIT Madras, while ANTS Ceramics got the award for commercializing high-end zirconia ceramic products and carbon sulphur analysis crucibles and 3B National Technology Awards presented Blackbio Biotech for working on a kit for diagnosis and prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Envision Scientific got the award for commercializing an indigenously developed drug eluting stent for diabetic patients and Hind High Vacuum got for commercializing thin film metallized alumina circuit for space applications.

Three start-ups got award for developing technologies that have commercial potentials – Astrome Technologies at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, for its work on GigaMesh, which is said to be the first point to multi-point millimeter wave wireless communication solution in the world; CyCa Onco Solutions at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, for developing two drug delivery devices for delivery of anticancer drug, Crisplatin; and Xcellence in Bio Innovation and Technologies at BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus, for developing a point of care device for testing antibiotic sensitive of pathogens causing urinary tract infections.

Speaking on the occasion, the President noted that the National Technology Day was landmark day for the country as it was on this day two decades ago that the Pokhran nuclear tests took place and demonstrated India’s capacity as a nuclear weapons state as well as a mature and responsible technology power, capable of harnessing sensitive knowledge.

He said technology was a destiny for the country as all national programmes required a force multiplier in the form of technology. But, at the same time, it must also be about equity. “Its (technology’s) fruits must be accessible to all. Finance and resources should be available to all technologists who may wish to turn entrepreneurs – and to migrate from the lab room to the shop floor.” Above all, the President said, gender equity must be integrated with technology production and technology sharing.