CIT-Kokrajhar alumni association demands 'Food Technology Park, Bodoland'

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KOKRAJHAR: The alumni association of Central Institute of Technology (CIT-Kokrajhar) has demanded setting up of 'Food Technology Park, Bodoland' in the institution to boost the food processing sector in the region. The association called on the Union Minister of State for Food Processing and Industries, Rameswar Teli during his recent visit to Kokrajhar and CIT, and submitted a proposal for the technology park.

Teli also held a meeting with Chief Executive Member of BTC, Pramod Boro, other Executive Members and BTC officials on Monday. He discussed the feasibility of food processing industries in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The minister visited Bodoland University (BU), Kokrajhar and discussed with Vice Chancellor LL Singh and exchanged ideas with faculty members. The minister also visited the Food Engineering Technology Department of Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Deemed to be University, Kokrajhar. The CIT- Kokrajhar was established in the year 2006 as per the Bodo Accord signed in 2003. It is a centrally funded institute which started offering courses in diploma and B. Tech, B. Design and now M. Tech, M. Des and PhD too. Since its inception, the Food Processing Technology or Food Engineering Technology department has been playing a vital role in the region.

The Minister and BTC chief attended a brief presentation of the department in their departmental lab. From the department, Dr. Avik Mukherjee (Dean, R&D), Dr. Subhajit Roy (HoD), Dr. Anuck Islary, Dr. Abhijit Das and Dr. Prakash Nayak presented a PPT about the departmental strength, its projects, outcome and future plans. The Head of the Department informed that many CIT students of the department were placed in good companies and some were doing PhD in many good universities in India and abroad. The faculty members requested the minister to support them with an incubation centre and also to expand their lab infrastructure.

Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Director of IIT- Guwahati, has been entrusted as Director, Additional Charge of CI- Kokrajhar. Prof. Sitharam has a good name in the field of research and administration. The institute and BTR administration are expecting a lot from Prof. Sitharam's leadership in the field of academic in the entire BTR region. Before leaving, Teli had a discussion with the alumni association of the institute and during the meeting, the alumni association submitted a project proposal for Food Technology Park, Bodoland.

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