The Centre is planning to make provisions for mandatory allocation of funds for identified backward regions in the areas of life sciences and biotechnology to begin with, on the lines of the specific reservation policy for the North-Eastern states at present by all departments.

With a view to promote innovations and industry clusters in select areas, the government is planning to replicate the North-East model of reservation instead of the usual excise sops or special zones that attracted lots of criticism several times. The programme, if successful in life sciences, may find replication in other areas too gradually.

To further explore the idea and work out the strategy for the same, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has already constituted an internal committee. Based on the recommendations, backward regions will be identified for special allocation. The Department is planning to implement the programme from the next financial year, at least on a pilot basis in the life sciences area.

The programmes will be implemented through public-private partnership initiatives in these select regions, identified by the Centre. The sub-Himalayan region is one of the proposed regions for mandatory earmarking of funds, sources said.

At present, all departments have to make a mandatory earmarking of 10 percent of their funds for the projects and programmes in the North-Eastern states. It has yielded good results in many sectors, according to the assessment by the Centre.

Especially in the biotechnology sector, the North-East experience has been successful and this has prompted the DBT to try the similar package for the development of life sciences industry in the backward regions.

“The DBT has taken action to implement several industry oriented and entrepreneurship development programmes in the North-East to promote public private partnership. The ongoing programmes are already implemented through active involvement of ICAR, CSIR and DST along with state government agencies and S&T Council. Such collaborations will be strengthened further to avoid duplication and bring value addition,” sources said.