Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. KATHUA: As India marks the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, popularly revered as Dharti Aaba and to honour the legacy of tribal warriors who safeguardedthe CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, commemorated the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas 2025 byorganizing a special educational and exposure visit for tribal students at BIRAC-BioNEST Incubator, Industrial Biotech Park in Ghatti, Kathua.
The initiative, aimed at encouraging scientific curiosity among underserved communities, brought about 200 tribals students, to one of the region’s most advanced scientific ecosystems.The participating students were taken through an extensive guided tour of the BioNEST Incubator, where they witnessed high-end scientific facilities operating in real time.
They observed fermentation and enzyme production units, phytopharma drug extraction systems, micropropagation laboratories, and specialized sections dedicated to the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants. They also visited the Central Instrumentation Facility, gaining rare exposure to the sophisticated analytical and research tools used by scientists and biotech startups.
A major highlight of the visit was a live demonstration of drone technology by experts from IIT Jammu in which the AI-powered drone detection, weed-mapping models, and advanced machine-learning applications were showcased. The students watched modern drones in action and learned how these systems are being used in precision agriculture, environmental mapping, emergency logistics, and scientific monitoring.
This exposure provided the real time application of Artificial Intelligence in the drug discovery, crop improvement, the analysis of dairy products and honey etc. The continuity between these initiatives reflects CSIR-IIIM’s commitment to democratizing scientific knowledge and bringing cutting-edge technologies closer to young learners.
Interacting with the students, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, said that the purpose of bringing tribal youth to North India’s flagship Biotech Park was to ignite their imagination and help them see science as an accessible space and can have the first hands information about the facilities and opportunities to nurture their ideas and innovations.
He emphasized that exposing students to a world-class scientific environment can motivate them to dream bigger and pursue careers as scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs who will contribute to India’s future in biotechnology and modern agriculture. The event also saw the presence of senior scientists including Dr. Asha Chaubey, Dr. Saurabh Saran, with overall coordination of Rajesh Gupta, Administrative Officer. Their interactions with the students added depth to the learning experience, making the visit both educational and inspiring.