57) Commemorating 100 years of establishment of Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR):

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57) Commemorating 100 years of establishment  of Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR):

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is headquartered in New Delhi and is the Apex level Organization for formulation, coordination and promotion of Biomedical Research in India. To its credit is the fact that it is one of the oldest institutions globally, which is engaged in medical research.

As the centenary celebrations suggest, it was set up in 1911 by the Government of India ( British Period) and was initially called the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) with an objective to conduct and coordinate Medical Research efforts/projects around the country.

In 1949, (after India gained Independence)  the IRFA was rechristened as the Indian Council of Medical Research and funded by the Central Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Some of the areas that it carries out Research Projects include all issues of National Health priorities including control and management of non-communicable and communicable diseases, maternal and child health, control of nutritional disorders, containment of environmental and occupational Health problems, mental health research as well as drug research on an on-going basis, the over-all emphasis being on health and well-being of the population.

The set-up/structure of the ICMR consists of a Governing Body of the Council (the highest Body) which is assisted by a Scientific Advisory Board which is assisted by several Scientific Advisory Groups, Committees, Expert Groups , Task Forces etc. which evaluate and monitor research activities undertaken the Council at various levels.

Bio-medical Research is encouraged in India by the ICMR by  both intramural (carried out by around 30 odd Permanent Research Institutes and 6 Regional Medical Research Centers) and extramural research(by establishing Centres for Advanced Research in different research areas around existing expertise and infrastructure in identified Departments of Medical Colleges, Universities and other non-ICMR Research Institutes.

The ICMR also funds open-ended research, specific time bound studies/projects etc.

One unique feature of the ICMR is that even if scientists and researchers reach the age of retirement, they are reemployed in the Emeritus Scientist status so that they may continue monitoring their researches/projects on specific bio-medical research, and the country benefits from their vast experience/knowledge.

The Council offers around 38 Awards in recognition of significant contributions, out of which several Awards are meant to encourage young scientists, particularly those under 40 years of age.

The ICMR also encourages Human Resource Development in bio-medical research through Research Fellowships, Short-term visiting Fellowships/Research studentships and various Seminars, Workshops and training programmes etc. conducted by the ICMR Institutes and Apex bodies.

Infective diseases and excessive population growth are two of the major priorities to be addressed in medical research throughout the past few decades as well as emerging Health problems including Mental health problems,neurological disorders, blindness, Hearing impairment, Cancer, Drug abuse etc.

Some of the National Health Programmes undertaken by the ICMR at various points of time are:

National Malaria Eradication Programme, National Filaria Control Programme, National Leprosy Control Programme,Diarrhoeal Diseases Control Programme, National AIDS Control Programme, Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Programme, National Cancer Control Programme, Universal Immunization Programme,National Tuberculosis Programme etc.

The ICMR has put in place a system for ongoing strengthening and streamlining information gathering ( Medical Informatics and Communication) to meet the growing requirements of the Bio-medical Scientists, Researchers, Students, Research Institutes and Corporates and is alert to new diseases like Swine Flu etc. 

Reserve Bank of India Commemorative coin issues:

Commemorative Coins: 

  

The cover of the two-coin Commemorative Proof set issued by Mumbai Mint showing the logo of the  Indian Council of Medical Research issued in 2011, from the collection of Jayant Biswas.

Obverse of the two-coin Proof set of 100 rupees and 5 Rupees issued by the Mumbai Mint. The legend "Bharat" is mentioned in Hindi on the left periphery of the coin and "India" is mentioned on the right periphery of the two coins. The Lion Capitol figures in the centre of both the coins together with the legend "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth always Prevails). The numerals "100" and "5" are on the bottom of each of the two coins indicating the denomination of the two coins, preceded by the newly introduced Rupee symbol.

The specifications of the two coins are:

100 Rupees coin:

Shape: Circular; 
Diameter: 44 mm; 
No.of Serrations:200; 
Weight: 35 gms; 
Metal Composition: Quaternary Alloy (Silver : 50%, Copper : 40%; Nickel: 5%, Zinc: 5%).

5 Rupees coin : 

Shape: Circular; 
Diameter: 23 mm;
No. of Serrations : 100
Weight: 6.00 gms;
Metal Composition: Nickel Brass (Copper : 75%; Zinc : 20%; Nickel : 5%).

Reverse of the above two-coin set showing the logo of the Indian Council of Medical Research. The coins , also, mention the inscription "Bhartiya Ayurvigyan Anusandhan Parishad Shatabdi Varsh" in Hindi and "Indian Council of Medical Research Centenary Year" in English.The centenary celebration year “2010-2011” is also mentioned below the logo.

Also, notice the "M" mint mark below the centenary celebration years indicating that this is a Mumbai Mint coin set issue. Interestingly, when Mumbai Mint issues a Proof coin set, it uses the "M" mint mark instead of its usual "Diamond" mint mark placed on other coin issues.

To commemorate/celebrate the Centenary Year of the functioning of the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Reserve Bank has, also, issued five rupee Nickel Brass coins in January 2012, for general circulation .

Obverse image of the coin issued for general circulation.

The scanned images of this coin has been provided for this post by Kavish Hukmani, the young Numismatist (whom I have referred to in my previous two preceding posts), from his coin collection. Also, a coin has been given to me for my collection by Krishna Tonpe who has been collecting several coins for me through his various resources.

The obverse of the coin has the Lion Capital in the centre together with the words “Satyameva Jayate “(Truth always Prevails) which together form the emblem/Coat of Arms of India. The numeral “5” denoting the denomination of the coin is below the emblem together with the rupee symbol which has been introduced on five rupee coin issues for the first time, along with the five rupee coin commemorating the centenary of Civil Aviation which has also been issued with the rupee symbol. (Please refer my previous post on this blog). 

On the left periphery is the word “Bharat” in Hindi and on the right periphery is the word “India” in English. Notice that since the “rupee symbol” has been placed on this coin, the words “Rupiye” in Hindi and “Rupees” in English have not been placed on this face of the coin as in earlier issues. 

The coin is Circular in shape, and has an outer diameter of 23 mm; weight is 6.00 gms; its metal composition is Nickel-Brass (75% Copper, 20% Zinc and 5% Nickel) and it has 100 serrations.

Reverse image of the above coin. This face of the coin shows the emblem of the Indian Council of Medical Research, within a circle, with the words “Pariksya Karino hi Kushala Bhawanti” inscribed below it. There are three differently sized lines on either side of the emblem. On top of the circle are the words “Shatabdi Varsh “ in Hindi and “Centenary year” in English. Below the logo/emblem are the centenary years “1911-2011”. On the upper periphery are the words “Bhartiya Ayurvigyan Anusandhan Parishad” and on the lower periphery are the words “Indian Council of Medical Research”.

This coin has been minted at Mumbai Mint. Notice the diamond mint mark at the extreme centre-bottom which is a Mumbai mint mark.

 The ICMR logo which has been inspiring Researchers and Scientists for more than a century now and continues to do so on an on-going basis.

Posted on 04.02.2017:

I have acquired the following back-dated First Day Cover (FDC) on the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) from the epostoffice, New Delhi after paying a premium of Rs.100/- :

 The First Day Cover (FDC) shows on the bottom left, several scientists in a laboratory carrying out their researches. There is the title of the FDC "Bhartiya Ayuvigyan Anusandhan Parishad" (in Hindi) and Indian Council of Medical Research" (in English).

The 500 Paise or Rs.5/- stamp shows a microscope and several strains of viruses/bacteria/cells as would be visible under magnification. The Cancellation hand-stamp is of New Delhi GPO and shows the logo of the ICMR in the centre. The Cancellation is dated 08.11.2011.