Setting a new benchmark for all the departments at the Centre, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was successful in utilizing over 90 per cent of funds allocated to it during the last Five Year Plan period and implemented most of the initiatives proposed for the period.
Against the proposed amount of Rs.900 crore, the DBT got Rs.675 crore during the year of 2007-08. Later it was revised at Rs.683 crore and the department was able to spend Rs.618 crore, which was 90.48 per cent of the allocation. During 2008-09, the spending was Rs.879 crore which was 99.77 per cent of the actual allocation of Rs.879 crore. The actual expenditure during 2009-10 was Rs.882.77 crore, against the revised allocation of Rs.900 crore, at the rate of 98.11 per cent.
The department was given Rs.1200 crore during 2010-11 and it spent Rs.1121.48 crore, that was 93.65 per cent of the allocation. Likewise, during 2011-12, the department sought Rs.1600 crore and was given Rs.1350 crore as per the revised estimates. It spent Rs.983 crore by February itself, according to the figures given by the department.
The good performance of the department has come in for praise by the Parliamentary committee attached to the Ministry also. “The figures are indicative of effective financial planning and robust monitoring of expenditure by the Department. The Committee commends the excellent financial performance made by the Department and hopes that the Department would even better this performance in the XII Five Year Plan,” the report of the panel said.
The department said an assessment of first four years (2007-2011) was undertaken for measuring indicators of performance. About 2410 R&D projects in key sectors have been implemented in Institutions/Universities with 26 per cent (535) in the area of medical biotechnology covering vaccines, diagnostics, human genetics and host-pathogen interaction followed by agriculture and allied areas of biotechnology (22 per cent); basic research and emerging areas (20 per cent); bioresources and bioprospecting (19 per cent) and capacity building (12 per cent, International collaboration/bioinformatics and HRD). Fifty five undergraduate colleges were also identified and funded for imparting quality life science education at the graduate level and designate them later as “Star colleges” based on performance.
“Seven grand challenge programmes were launched in the areas of microbial prospecting of genes and molecules, vaccines, food science and nutrition, accelerated molecular breeding, biodesign, genomics and bioenergy, and biofuels. Major translational research initiatives through grand challenge schemes and network programmes in the areas of agriculture and health care resulted in several technological developments. Vaccines for malaria, dengue, cholera, and rotavirus are at various phases of clinical trials,” the department said.