4 Sep : The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the following : (i) Implementation of the programme for instituting a suite of DBT-Wellcome Trust Fellowships at a total cost of Rs.1296 crores with DBT and Wellcome Trust contributing equal sums of Rs.648 crores each, over a period of 10 years commencing 2008-09;
(ii) DBT, incurring an expenditure of Rs.240.059 crores in implementation of the programme during the remaining four years (2008-09 to 2011 -2012) of the XI Plan period:
(iii) Establishing a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to be operated as an independent public charitable trust with two trustees – one foreign national nominated by Wellcome Trust and the other an Indian representing DBT.
The programme will result in a strong, world-class human resource foundation in the high-end biomedical research in the country at a scale where the country can make a global impact.