The limited number of NABL-accredited laboratories in Manipur was a significant concern during an awareness programme on NABL Accreditation and Its Benefits, held at Manipur Technical University (MTU) as part of the Gunvatta Yatra Initiative led by the Quality Council of India (QCI). The event was organized by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), which operates under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and was hosted by the Department of Civil Engineering in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell at MTU. The initiative aims to enhance the culture of quality in various sectors, particularly focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions of India.
NABL Consultant Ashutosh Debnath delivered an informative presentation on the accreditation process, eligibility criteria, and the benefits of NABL accreditation, such as enhancing customer confidence and strengthening laboratory management systems for international recognition. He underscored the critical need to bolster the quality infrastructure in the state due to the existing scarcity of NABL-accredited laboratories. The programme attracted over 50 professionals, mainly from the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, MTU, Dhanamanjuri University (DMU), and other local universities, including laboratory professionals, quality assurance heads, industry representatives, faculty, researchers, and students.
Participants engaged in the “Quality Bharat Pledge,” reaffirming their commitment to quality, standardization, and best practices within their respective fields. Kosygin Leishangthem, the Course Coordinator and Faculty member of the Department of Civil Engineering at MTU, emphasized the importance of such programmes in enhancing collaboration between industry and academia while aligning institutional practices with global quality standards. The organizers noted that events like this are essential for improving laboratory competence and preparing the state for both national and international competitiveness. The programme concluded with an interactive session and a vote of thanks to NABL, QCI, university authorities, the resource person, and all attendees for contributing to the event’s success.
