Dharmendra Pradhan Seeks Establishment of NIPER in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda to establish a National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Odisha.

In a letter to Nadda, Pradhan highlighted the potential benefits of setting up the institute in the state, emphasizing its contribution to the growth of the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors in Odisha and Eastern India. He proposed the Odisha Bio-Tech Park in Bhubaneswar as an ideal location for the institute.

“The Odisha Bio-Tech Park is the first-of-its-kind facility in Eastern India, equipped with essential infrastructure like water, electricity, effluent treatment, and other facilities needed for biotechnology industries and allied sectors,” Pradhan stated.

The initiative, he said, would address gaps in pharmaceutical education and research, promote innovation, and foster a skilled workforce, boosting India’s global competitiveness in the pharmaceutical sector. It would also align with the objectives of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and support the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Pradhan urged Nadda to consider Odisha for the next NIPER, asserting that it would significantly enhance pharmaceutical education and research while supporting the region’s development.