16-06-2026:Address by the Hon’ble Governor at ICAR-IVRI, Mukteshwar

Jai Hind!

Today, as I stand on the sacred land of Mukteshwar, I am overwhelmed by a profound and almost indescribable sense of inspiration.

Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, surrounded by majestic ranges covered with deodar and rhododendron forests, and enriched by a glorious scientific legacy spanning more than a century, this institution possesses a truly distinctive identity. Being here feels less like visiting an institution and more like entering a sacred center of knowledge, where science, service, and nation-building converge in a remarkable manner.

IVRI Mukteshwar is not merely a center of research; it is a source of inspiration for India’s scientific excellence, innovation, and commitment to national service. For over a century, this institution has made significant contributions to animal health, disease control, biosecurity, and livestock development, playing a crucial role in safeguarding the nation’s livestock resources and strengthening the rural economy.

When epidemics such as rinderpest threatened the country’s rural economy, the scientific efforts of this institution protected livestock and provided support to millions of farmers. This proud legacy reinforces our belief that science dedicated to societal welfare is the greatest strength of a nation and the foundation of self-reliance.

The protection and productivity of livestock are not merely scientific responsibilities; they are the lifeline of Uttarakhand’s rural economy. In our mountain regions, livestock are not only a source of income but also the strongest pillar of social security, self-reliance, and dignity for families. In particular, our women have sustained household and community economies through livestock rearing, often under challenging circumstances.

When an animal in a village falls ill, it is not just one living being that suffers; the livelihood of an entire family comes under threat. At such times, when scientists and animal health experts reach remote villages with timely advice and treatment, the smile that returns to a farmer’s face becomes the greatest measure of research success. This is the true social relevance of science and the highest form of service to humanity.

Today, it is essential that science does not remain confined to laboratories and research papers but reaches directly into fields and villages. The concept of “Lab to Land” will be meaningful only when the benefits of research reach marginal farmers and livestock keepers standing at the last mile. The ultimate evaluation of any scientific achievement should be based on the positive impact it creates in the lives of farmers and livestock rearers.

Migration from mountain regions remains a serious challenge for Uttarakhand. For decades, it has been said that “the water of the mountains and the youth of the mountains do not benefit the mountains themselves.” The time has come to change this perception.

If science-based dairy farming, goat rearing, poultry farming, beekeeping, and other livestock-based activities are integrated with modern technologies, new avenues of self-employment can be created for local youth, helping realize the vision of a developed Uttarakhand.

I am confident that if this institution undertakes a mission to provide scientific training, technical guidance, and entrepreneurial support to local youth, animal husbandry can evolve from a traditional occupation into a vibrant rural enterprise and innovation-driven startup model, playing a significant role in reducing migration.

At a time when climate change has become a global challenge, animal health and human health can no longer be viewed separately. Changing climatic conditions are giving rise to new diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease and several zoonotic diseases, creating new challenges before us.

In such circumstances, it is imperative to adopt the “One Health” approach in mission mode, because the health of humans, animals, and the environment is so deeply interconnected that safeguarding one is impossible without safeguarding the others.

Uttarakhand is richly endowed with biodiversity. Our indigenous breeds, particularly the medicinally valued Badri cow and the mountain sheep and goats, form an important part of our ecological and cultural heritage. Developing a long-term scientific roadmap for their genetic conservation and productivity enhancement is the need of the hour.

At the same time, traditional knowledge systems such as natural farming, Jeevamrit, Panchagavya, and related practices should be scientifically evaluated and validated before being promoted on a wider scale. This could enable Uttarakhand to emerge as a national leader in organic agriculture and strengthen sustainable farming systems.

Today is the age of digital transformation. Given Uttarakhand’s difficult geographical terrain, the extensive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), tele-veterinary services, and digital technologies has become a necessity.

Simple digital platforms should be developed through which livestock owners in remote regions can directly connect with scientists and obtain timely guidance. The simpler and more localized the dissemination of knowledge, the wider its impact will be. Digital technology can become the most effective bridge between science and society.

My young scientists and students,

The true value of knowledge lies in its ability to bring hope into the lives of the most vulnerable members of society. Science becomes complete only when it is guided by human sensitivity and compassion. The combination of a scientific mind and a compassionate heart can become the greatest force for nation-building.

Research is meaningful only when its outcomes bring visible change to society. I urge all of you to visit villages regularly, sit with farmers and livestock keepers, understand their real challenges, and then return to your laboratories to develop simple, affordable, and practical solutions. The true success of your research will be measured by the direct benefits it brings to the last person in society.

I would especially like to acknowledge the women of Uttarakhand, who have been the true custodians of agriculture, forests, and livestock. If science develops technologies and women-friendly tools that reduce their workload, the benefits will extend beyond individual families and become the foundation of progress for the entire rural community.

In conclusion, I would like to place a humble expectation before this institution: that in the coming years, IVRI Mukteshwar should resolve to develop at least one hundred model livestock villages across Uttarakhand, where scientific animal husbandry, organic agriculture, and local entrepreneurship are integrated. Such model villages will become strong pillars of a developed Uttarakhand and serve as inspiring examples of self-reliant rural development for the entire nation.

I am fully confident that through your dedication, research excellence, and spirit of national service, this institution will achieve new heights in the years ahead and further expand its historic role in building a Developed India and a Developed Uttarakhand.

Let us all pledge to make science an instrument of service, research a means of nation-building, and knowledge the foundation of public welfare.

With this hope and confidence, I conclude my remarks, wishing all of you a bright future and this esteemed institution continued success and progress.

Vande Mataram! Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Jai Hind!