MoU between ICAR and ICMR

01^th December, 2016, New Delhi

In the august presence of Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh and Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Indian Council of Medical Research in joint collaboration have agreed to enter into Memorandum of Understanding under one health hub for zoonotic diseases, anti-microbial resistance, nutrition and pesticide residues.  This cooperation is for better animal health vis-a-vis public health safety. On the occasion, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste was also present there.

The MoU is signed by Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR and Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary, DHR & DG, ICMR, here today.

This MoU will strengthen the ties between the two organizations and energize environment of mutual cooperation and collaboration. The collaboration is aimed at developing guiding inputs for National Action Plan on anti-microbial resistance with reference to limiting resistance emanating from antibiotic use in feed animals and spreading into the environment.

As zoonotic diseases cause many different types of illnesses in people and animals ranging from mild to serious illness and even death.  It is important to know that animals do not always appear sick when carrying a zoonotic disease.  Many animals can appear healthy but still be carrying pathogens/microbes that can make people sick.  It is estimated that more than 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people are spread from animals and 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people are spread from animals. 

This necessitates a key goal for evolvement of one health paradigm including surveillance of infectious/zoonotic diseases in domestic and wild animals to anticipate emergence of new zoonoses/diseases.

Therefore, ICAR and ICMR inspired by their common objectives to promote and accelerate the progress of research and training in various disciplines of agricultural sciences  and public health under ONE HEALTH APPROACH have decided to enter into this important MoU.

Dr C K Mishra, Secretary (H & FW); Dr H Rahman, DDG (Animal Science), ICAR; Dr Rakesh Kumar, Sr DDG (Admn), ICMR and other senior officers from ICAR and ICMR were also present on the occasion.

(Source: CPRO,ICAR)