‘Jamshedpur lab played key role in developing Covid-19 interventions’
JAMSHEDPUR: About 10% of people covered by a survey conducted in 37 cities by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had developed Covid-19 antibodies by October last year and 38 laboratories under the council, including National Metallurgical Laboratory (NLM) in Jamshedpur, played key role in developing Covid-19 interventions, said CSIR director general (DG) cum Union Science and Technology secretary Dr Shekhar C Mande on Tuesday.
Dr Mande also inaugurated the 493kWp capacity On-Grid Rooftop Solar Power System, that has recently been installed in CSIR-NLM and Urban Recycling Centre of CSIR-NLM as a centre of excellence in the area of e-waste recycling.
“The CSIR, through its 38 laboratories and expertise in diverse areas ranging from aerospace to buildings to genomics to chemicals, quickly sprang into action by developing Covid-19 interventions. For effective planning and strategising, CSIR swiftly set up five Covid-19 verticals--disease surveillance, drugs and vaccines, testing and diagnostics, PPEs and supply chain management,” said Dr Mande.
He revealed that a serum survey carried out by CSIR covering 37 cities of the country had found that 10% of the survey samples had started developing Covid-19 antibodies.
The report has been submitted to the Government of India (GoI).
“CSIR developed Corona cleaner, which prevents spread of coronavirus when used in airconditioners. This helps in opening up schools, colleges, cinema halls, multiplexes, auditoriums etc. We also developed non-invasive ventilator called Swastha Vayu, which can be used as a mask. A total of 1,200 such ventilators were given to the Delhi government. We also developed a Covid-19 testing kit named Feluda, which was taken by Tata Group and gives test result in just an hour. CSIR now has the technology to set up a 100-bed hospital in just five days and have built six such hospitals in Himachal Pradesh,” said Dr Mande.
Extensive research work was on at NML and technology transfer has taken place for making India self-reliant in lithium ion battery manufacturing, Dr Mande said .
We developed a non-invasive ventilator called Swastha Vayu, which can also be used as a mask. A total of 1,200 such ventilators were given to the Delhi govt. DR SHEKHAR C MANDE, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research director general