Govt announces cash awards for winners of Asian Games, other cabinet decisions 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cabinet that convened here today announced cash awards for the winners of Kerala who bagged medal in the Asian Games. A gold medal winner will get Rs 25 lakh, Rs 19 lakh for silver and 12.5 lakh for bronze medalists.

It has been decided to establish a Center of Excellence in Microbiome in the state. It will be set up under the Kerala Science, Technology and Environment Council with the support and partnership of the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology. Administrative permission was given after accepting the detailed project document submitted by the Kerala Development Innovation Strategic Council. Microbiome research is an emerging field of science that offers a new perspective to the field of microbiology. Microbiome research is the study of the system of microbes that live and work together in the same environment.

The Center of Excellence in Microbiome will create posts on a temporary basis. Dr Sabu Thomas, retired from Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, will be appointed as the first director on contract basis for three years. The Kerala State Council of Science, Technology and Environment has been tasked with initiating the initial steps for registration as a company. Department of Science and Technology of Government of Kerala has been decided as the administrative department of Microbiome.

Microbiome research based on a one-health approach becomes more relevant in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Microbiome research aims to develop new diagnostic interventional techniques in diverse scientific fields spanning ecology, agriculture, medicine, forensic science and exobiology. The government has decided to set up the Microbiome Center in the budget 2022-23 to effectively utilize the potential in this area.

It will make it a global center that can coordinate interdisciplinary research, cross-domain collaboration, and innovative product development that popularizes the importance of the microbiota in the holistic health system. Spatio-temporal mapping of the microbiome will be created by harnessing the potential of big data technologies such as IoT and AT data analytics. A genomic data base will be built for further research and understanding microbial interactions.

To encourage and support start-ups and entrepreneurs, new strategies using innovative technologies will be developed and research will be conducted thereby. The Center of Excellence in Microbiome plans to conduct research and development in six domains--human microbiome, animal microbiome, plant microbiome, aquatic microbiome, environmental microbiome and data labs.

The laboratory for initial research work will be housed in a building at Kinfra Park, in Thiruvananthapuram. The operation will be shifted there once the new building is constructed at Thonnakkal Life Science Park.