Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday lauded the role played by the executive, legislature and judiciary in the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution underscoring these provisions as ‘obstacles to democratic governance’.

What had been intended as a temporary provision of the Constitution had gone on to become detrimental to the nation creating an ecosystem that had handicapped the people of the region, said the vice-president.

Highlighting the affirmative steps being taken by the government in the region, Dhankhar noted that the sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir that had earlier been denied their rights and benefits under government schemes now have a greater voice in governance and are witness to a transformed scenario. With Article 370 no longer being part of the Constitution, Dr.Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s dream has been translated into reality, he said.

Inaugurating the Biotech Startup Expo on “Emerging Startup Trends in North India” in Kathua, the vice-president outlined five parameters or ‘Panchatantra’ that are fundamental to the growth and progress of any nation- peace and stability, equality of law, transparency and accountability in governance, an ecosystem that favours meritocracy, and empowerment of women- all of which, he said, are ground realities in India today.

Stressing the fifth parameter, Dhankhar drew attention to the opportunities that have opened up for the women of Jammu and Kashmir, with the availability of property rights following abrogation of Article 370, in addition to the rights conferred by the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

Abrogation of Article 370 and the enabling initiatives taken by the government in Jammu and Kashmir have resulted in “development being completely delinked from partisan interests”, Dhankar said. Recognising that every individual has a right to participate in politics, he cautioned that politics must not be allowed to become a deterrent to progress.

Expressing his appreciation for the nation’s progress in the domain of biotechnology, he made special mention of India’s position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, having a greater number of unicorns than China.

Highlighting the extent of India’s internet penetration and its great number of digital transactions, Dhankhar emphasised the importance of nurturing a robust research ecosystem for the progress of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh said while India is emerging as a world leader in Biotechnology, Kathua with North India’s first Biotech Industrial Park is emerging as North India’s StartUp nerve centre.

He said the Biotech ecosystem in the country is emerging at a rapid pace, with more than 6500 start-ups and 75 Bio-incubators set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) -Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

The Union Minister said the innovation ecosystem continues to flourish, and India aspires to become one of the top 5 Global Bio-manufacturing Hubs, and also among the top 10 biotechnology destinations globally. The rise of Biotech Startups is pivotal for the country’s future economy. These startups have experienced remarkable growth, increasing from just about 50 in 2014 to over 6,756 in 2022, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, “The emerging Biotech ecosystem at Jammu has been supported to nurture the Innovation ecosystem in the UT of J&K. This Biotech Park at Kathua is scripting the emergence of a biotech start-up ecosystem. This has created a good platform for Industry-Academia collaborations.”

The Expo witnessed more than 200 delegates participating in the expo and 25 Biotech Startups that showcased their Innovations in different areas of biotechnology.