Health and Science and Technology Minister Vipin Parmar met Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan at New Delhi today and urged for speedy sanction of projects worth Rs. 779 lakhs to the state already submitted to the government of India.He informed that the Himachal Council of Science, Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE) has sent a proposal worth Rs. 500 lakhs to the department of science and technology, GoI for setting up a Technology Demonstration Centre in Himachal Pradesh at Government Polytechnic, Sundernagar in Mandi district. He said that this would demonstrate all available technologies under one roof besides facilitating in organising short term courses for farmers, awareness programmes for panchayats self-help groups, NGOs and training to unemployed youth for generating their livelihood.The Minister said that HIMCOSTE has also submitted Rs. 155 lakh Student Project Scheme project to GoI which aims at enhancing analytical and technical potential of young engineers graduating from college of state by providing financial assistance. Under this, grant worth Rs. 8000 per project per year will be released to best 400 projects. The total cost of three years project will be shared by state and union government, he said.Vipin Parmar further informed that Rs. 124 lakhs proposal on Skill Development Programme under Skill Vigyan in Biotechnology has been submitted to the GoI which envisages to impart skills of microbiological techniques applicable to food, water, pharmaceutical and environmental industries besides identifying thrust areas for skilling. It would focus on domain wise demand of skilled manpower in areas of Life Sciences and Biotechnology.The Union Minister heard the issues raised by Vipin Parmar and informed that Rs. 500 lakh proposal for setting up Technology Demonstration Centre has been approved by the department of Science and Technology, GoI and was in the final stages of sanction. He assured of all possible assistance to state.