Imphal, Feb. 17: Union minister for science and technology Harsh Vardhan today urged Imphal's Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development to contribute to the development of the region.

"Reorient the research purpose. Connect the research results with the common people and contribute to the development of the Northeast," Vardhan said, while laying the foundation of a technology and skill development centre at the institute's complex in Imphal West today.

Vardhan, whose two-day visit concluded today, said the Northeast deserved much more attention than what it had got in the past 60 years. "I can assure you that the NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bring welfare schemes for the region."

Vardhan said he was "sorry" at the present state of affairs in the biodiversity institute, which was set up by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2001. "A lot needs to be done to make it a more prestigious institute. I will personally supervise extension of the Centre's support to this institute," he promised.

During his meeting with chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh last evening, Vardhan requested the chief minister to extend help to the institute.

He urged the institute's scientists and researchers to use science to improve the overall condition of the people. "Publishing research papers in well-known journals is not enough. The research is useless if we do not connect it to the people. Science without connecting with the people is meaningless," he said.

He urged the institute to start sorting priorities, identifying the problems of the country and finding solutions to all of them. He said nothing was impossible.

Recalling his dream of making India polio free 21 years ago when he was the health minister, Vardhan urged researchers to have dreams and pursue them till they are realised. He expressed happiness that India is polio-from for four years.

Vardhan, on his maiden visit to Manipur, said he was impressed by the simplicity and determination of the people and expressed confidence that the institute's director Dinabandhu Sahoo would take it to new heights.

Sahoo said initially he was hesitant about staying in Imphal as he was greeted with two bomb blasts soon after landing here in October last year. But today he assured the minister that he would not leave in the near future and vowed to make the institute the best model of sustainable development.

Varfdhan also met Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati today and discussed subjects for more use of science and technology for development purposes.