JANUARY 26, 2022

India celebrates its 73rd Republic Day today. On this historic day, seventy-two years ago, the Constitution of India came into force, and the people of India resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic.

On this occasion, I extend my warm greetings and felicitations to all my fellow Indians living in Qatar. I also take this opportunity to convey our warm greetings to His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, His Highness the Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the members of the Royal Family, the Government and the friendly people of this wonderful country for their continued patronage and support to the Indian community in Qatar.

The Constitution of India enshrines the ideals of our freedom movement and is the embodiment of the aspirations of over 1.35 billion people. The spirit of the Constitution has been steadfast and unshakeable over the last seven decades. Inspired by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and the vision of the leaders of the Indian independence struggle and social reformers such as C Rajagopalachari, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Abul Kalam Azad and Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Constitution has been the cynosure for the nation encompassing its traditions, beliefs, and ethos.

This year’s Republic Day has a special meaning as the Indians around the world, including in Qatar, rejoice in India’s transformational journey in the 75 years since independence. We are celebrating a ‘New India’ – world’s largest democracy, third-largest global economy, fast emerging innovation capital of the world – that is confident with citizens becoming active stakeholders in the country’s successes.

The multilingual, multireligious and multicultural environment of India is a great power not only for all Indians but also for the whole world. This strength teaches us not only to think for oneselves in times of crisis but also to work for humanity. This has manifested distinctly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen how India, following the vision of ‘One Earth, One Health’ is saving crores of lives by providing necessary medicines and vaccines to many countries. Today, India is the world’s third-largest pharma producer; it is a ‘Pharmacy of the World”. Within the country, on 16 January, India completed one year of the world’s largest and the fastest vaccination drive through India-made vaccines and delivered over 1.5 billion vaccine doses. Free food assistance has been provided to nearly 800 million people to soften the economic impact of the COVID-19.

On the economic front, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world with a growth rate of 8.4% over the past year. The predictions for 2022 are even better. This is a testimony to the strong fundamentals of the country’s economy. Far reaching economic reforms over the past year, including in IT, telecom, BPO, taxation, labour sectors, among others have promoted Ease of Doing Business, minimized government interference, simplified taxes, deregulated sectors like drones, space and geo-spatial mapping. Today, India is one of the leading destinations of FDI globally. We have a huge, secure and successful digital payment platform. Last month almost 4.4 billion transactions have been done through Unified Payments Interface in India. Entrepreneurship among the Indian youth is at a new height. India’s Startup ecosystem is the third largest in the world with over 60,000 registered start-ups and over 80 unicorns. 42 new Unicorns emerged in India in 2021.

Focus remains on developing quality infrastructure domestically. 6 lakh villages are being connected with optical fibre. An investment of US$ 1.3 trillion is being made on connectivity infrastructure. Through innovative tools like Asset Monetization, a target to generate US$ 80 billion has been set. India launched the Gati Shakti National Master Plan for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. While following the path of self-reliance or Atama Nirbharta, India is incentivizing investment and production. Production linked Incentive Schemes worth U$ 26 billion are being implemented in 14 sectors. Spirit is to Make in India, Make for the World. It is India’s commitment to making global supply chains reliable, secure and robust. Continuing its space odyssey, India’s first human spaceflight mission ‘Gaganyan’ is expected to be launched in 2023.

Globally, India continues to be at the forefront of contributing to international policies. Reflecting the country’s strong belief in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or the ‘World is One Family’, India allocated over US$ 900 million for its Development Partnerships with other countries. India once again took the onus of contributing towards global good at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November 2021. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced India’s strategy of ‘Panchamrita’ or the “five nectars” that included a pledge for net-zero emissions by 2070 despite our historically low emissions. Further, India will meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements by 2030 with renewable energy. Prime Minister also presented the idea of Mission LIFE – ‘Lifestyle for Environment’. The need is to transform this idea into a mass movement for P-3 ‘Pro Planet People’. India has also placed new technologies at the centre of its ambitious climate action goals. India’s new National Green Hydrogen Energy Mission is aimed at scaling up green hydrogen production and developing India into a global hub for the manufacturing of hydrogen and fuel cells technologies across the value chain.

India also contributed positively during the first year of its membership at the United Nations Security Council (2021-2022). Sessions on Afghanistan, enhancing maritime security and the launch of a tech platform named “UNITE Aware” in collaboration with the UN for improving the safety and security of the UN peacekeepers were some of the notable contributions. India has also assumed the Chair of the UNSC Counter-terrorism Committee in 2022. India has also joined the G20 Troika along with Italy and Indonesia as we prepare to assume the G20 Presidency in 2023.

On this auspicious day, it is befitting to acknowledge India’s friendly and multifaceted relationship with Qatar that has grown from strength to strength over the past year. Both countries supported each other during unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been close cooperation and coordination between the two countries to deal with the challenge, including in building resilient health care systems, secure and reliable supply chains, food security and others. Qatar’s timely support to India for supporting our efforts to deal with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic affirmed the brotherly ties between the two countries.

Our relationship is not just a modern phenomenon but has strong historical and cultural links dating back to centuries. The relationship has been carefully nurtured at the highest level under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and H.H. the Amir and imparted with fresh momentum by regular high-level exchanges despite the COVID-19 challenge.

The strong political relationship between the two countries has been augmented by a deepening economic partnership. Since March 2020, Qatar’s Foreign Direct Investment into India has increased five folds. Over 50 fully owned Indian companies in diverse fields such as infrastructure, information and communication technology, energy are based in Qatar and there are over 15,000 jointly owned companies. The size of the Indian economy (nearing $3 trillion), its $1.4 trillion infrastructure development plans, digital ecosystem, outstanding human resources, private equity, venture capital investments, environment conducive for startups make India an attractive investment destination. The two countries acknowledge that a stronger and more comprehensive economic and investment partnership is mutually beneficial. In this context, institutional exchanges between the respective Ministries of Commerce and Industry; Custom authorities and businesses have been strengthened. India was Qatar’s third-largest trading partner 2020-21 and the bilateral trade has crossed almost US$ 9 billion. India was the third-largest export destination for Qatar and is also among the top three sources of Qatar’s imports in 2021. Participation of External Affairs Minister in the inaugural ‘Qatar Economic Forum’ in July 2021 along with CEOs of leading Indian business conglomerates like TATA, Reliance, Bharati Airtel, Birla and others, highlighted India’s keen interest in expanding our economic ties with Qatar. Both sides have set up a Joint Task Force on Investments to facilitate new investments in the country. Earlier this month, the Qatar Financial Centre Authority and the International Financial Services Centres Authority of India have entered into an MoU for cooperation, including in the FinTech sector. The energy partnership remains an important pillar of bilateral relationship and both sides are working, including under the rubric of the Bilateral Task Force on Energy to move from a buyer-seller relationship to a more comprehensive energy partnership.

Cooperation between India and Qatar also continues to strengthen in areas such as defence, security, healthcare and education. The first-ever visit of India’s Vice Chief of Army to Qatar in December 2021 would pave way for further higher-level defence exchanges. It was preceded by the 2nd Joint Naval Exercise Za’ir Al Bahr in August 2021. The second meeting of the Joint Working Group on security and law enforcement matters was held in October 2021 in which both sides reviewed bilateral security cooperation and agreed expanding it to newer areas. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an appropriate context for the two countries to build a healthcare partnership through the inaugural meeting of the Joint Working Group on Health in December 2021. Education partnership is making new strides with Savitri Bhai Phule Pune University becoming the first higher institution to start its operations in Qatar from September 2021. This will complement the 18 Indian schools running in Qatar with approximately 46,000 students. As India and Qatar work together to celebrate 50 years of establishment of full diplomatic relations in 2023, both sides also look towards expanding bilateral cooperation including in the areas of space technology, information technology, entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence, academic and youth exchanges. India and Qatar are poised to work together in multilateral fora too on global issues including – climate change, counterterrorism, cyber security.

The depth of India-Qatar ties is reflected in the strong people-to-people relationship. Today, it is a second home to over 750,000 Indian nationals. It is heartening to see the vibrant diversity of the Indian diaspora finding space to thrive in Qatar. On their side, it’s my privilege to acknowledge the immense and positive contribution of the Indian community to the socio-economic development in Qatar. The Indian diaspora is also eagerly looking to support the much-awaited FIFA World Cup 2022 later this year and contribute towards its successful conclusion. As much Indians partake in the domestic celebrations in Qatar, the Indian community has also highlighted its willingness to contribute to the country during adversity. The contribution of the Indian healthcare professionals based in Qatar during the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic exemplified the unwavering spirit of the Indian diaspora. As we again witness the rise in COVID-19 cases globally, including in Qatar, they have mobilized themselves once again to support the local Indian community during these difficult times.

I also extend my commendation to the various Indian Community Associations in Qatar for participating enthusiastically in over 75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav events. The celebrations will continue in 2022 and strengthen the bonds of the Indian expatriates with the rich Indian history and inspire them to take the reins of India’s development journey.

The Embassy of India in Doha will continue to promote and support the welfare and well-being of the Indian community in Qatar. Our interface with the community, especially with the blue-collar workers, is continuously expanding and evolving with the incorporation of IT-based platforms. The launch of the “India in Doha” mobile application and ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayta Kendra’ (PBSK), including live chat services, were key steps in this endeavour. The Embassy of India is working towards expanding the services of PBSK in regional languages of Tamil, Kannada and Telugu beyond the existing services of Hindi, Malayalam and English. The Embassy has also been holding regular Open House Sessions where the Indian community is invited to voice their issues and concerns.

I once again extend my warm greetings to my fellow Indians in Qatar on this 73rd Republic Day and thank them for their continuing invaluable contribution to the growth and development of Qatar and India.

Shri Ram Nath Kovind President

Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minister

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Ambassador’s Message

SPECIAL THANKSThe Gulf Times thanks the Embassy of India, Doha-Qatar for the support rendered in preparing this supplement

Dr. Deepak Mittal

January 26, 20224

The second edition of Za’ir-Al-Bahr, a bilateral Maritime Exercise

between the Indian Navy (IN) and Qatar Emiri Naval Force (QENF), was conducted between 9-14 August 2021. It included a three-day harbour phase followed by a two-day sea phase.

The sea phase comprised of Tactical Maritime Exercises involving Surface Action, Anti-Piracy exercises, Air Defence, Maritime Surveillance, Boarding Operations and SAR Exercises.

The Indian Embassy in Doha repatriated a total of 283 Indian

nationals, who were evacuated from Afghanistan to Qatar, to India between 21 and 28 August 2021.

Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal met Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Jamal,

Chairman of Qatar’s General Authority of Customs, and exchanged views on promoting bilateral trade relations, customs cooperation and mutual assistance, exchange of information and expertise.

Dr Deepak Mittal met Hussain Alfardan, Chairman of Alfardan

Group & Deputy Chairman of Qatari Businessmen Association. They discussed ways to further improve India-Qatar trade and investment relations, especially in the gems and jewellery sector.

Dr Deepak Mittal met Sheikh Khalid bin Saud Al Thani, Executive

Director, Qatar Central Bank. They discussed bilateral trade and investment partnership, in addition to strengthening the banking relationship between both countries.

Dr Deepak Mittal called on HE Dr Hassan bin Lahdan Al-

hassan Al-Mohanadi, President of the Supreme Judiciary Council of the State of Qatar. They exchanged views on strengthening judicial cooperation between India and Qatar.

Dr Deepak Mittal met Abdulaziz Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO of Qatar

Development Bank and discussed start up ecosystems in India and Qatar, support to entrepreneurs and possible future collaborations.

Dr Deepak Mittal met HE Abdullatif Ali Al-Abdullah, Director of

International Health Relations Department, MoPH. They discussed bilateral health cooperation, travel, joint research and training.

Dr Deepak Mittal met HE Ali Samikh Al Marri, Chairman, NHRC Qatar.

They discussed bilateral, regional and international cooperation for protection and promotion of human and labour rights.

Dr Deepak Mittal met HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari,

Minister of State & President of Qatar National Library. They discussed historic and contemporary cultural ties between India and Qatar, ways to strengthen them and possible future collaborations.

Dr Deepak Mittal called on the Speaker of Shura Qatar HE Hassan

bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim. He conveyed wishes from India’s Loksabha Speaker Om Birla. Both discussed bilateral ties, including strengthening of bilateral parliamentary exchanges.

Dr Deepak Mittal called on HE Dr Salih Ali Al Marri, Assistant

Minister for Health Affairs of the Ministry of Public Health, and had positive exchange of views on ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in healthcare facilities.

Bilateral EngagementsSecond Joint Bilateral Naval Exercise Za’ir-al-Bahr

January 26, 2022 5

Dr Deepak Mittal met HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai,

Minister of Communication and Information Technology of Qatar, and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in ICT Sector. The minister acknowledged India’s strengths in this sector and appreciated Indian IT professionals’ contribution to Qatar.

Legendary Indian boxer, M C Mary Kom, has gifted her gloves, medal and sportswear to the upcoming Qatar

Olympic and Sports Museum. These were handed over by

Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal to Abdulla Yousuf al-Mulla, director of the museum, at a special ceremony held in Doha on December 2, 2021.

January 26, 20226

Key Events

Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India

and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.

This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Modi’s vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is an embodiment of all that is progressive about India’s socio-cultural, political and economic identity. The official journey of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” commenced on March 12, 2021 which started a 75 week countdown to the 75th anniversary of Independence and will end post a year on 15th August, 2023.

Beach cleaning campaign The Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), in association with Al Baladiya, organised a cleaning campaign at Al Farkiah Beach in Qatar. Indian Community actively participated and cleared nearly 4 square km area from plastic.

Tree plantation As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), in association with Al Baladiya, organised a tree planting event in Old Airport Park. Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal and Mohammad Abdullah Mohammad, head of garden section, planted trees.

MES Indian School’s Green Ambassadors, along with members of the Indian community also participated in tree planting.

Malhar-A Musical Journey

As part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) organised a musical journey, Malhar, led by the ICC Youth Wing and with participation of amateur singers in Doha.

Food stalls with traditional village settings from various parts of India were among the main attractions of the evening.

ICC president P N Baburajan formally inaugurated the event where youth wing co-ordinator and ICC Managing Committee member Mohan Kumar gave the welcome address. ICC vice-president Subbaramanya Hebbagelu delivered the presidential speech by highlighting the active role and participation of the ICC Youth Wing in the various events organised by the centre.

Batukamma, a cultural symbol of TelanganaBatukamma, a cultural symbol of the southern Indian state of Telangana, was organised as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative to mark the 75th Independence of India.

Medical CampsIndian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), in association with Allevia Medical Centre & WellCare Pharmacy, organized a medical camp on October 15, 2021. Health checkup covered blood sugar, blood pressure, BMI, vision test and doctors’ consultation. Lipid profile, ECG and dental checks were done as per doctors’ advice. Free medicines were also provided.

Naseem Medical Center also hosted a mega health camp organized by Qatar Indian Social Forum for expat Indian drivers and workers.

ICC celebrates Ayurveda DayAs part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) organised an event in association with Nammude Adukkala Thottam Doha (Our Kitchen Garden Doha), a collective of farming enthusiasts, to celebrate National Ayurveda Day on November 2 on the ICC premises.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat CornerThe ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Corner’ was inaugurated on the Indian embassy premises to showcase handmade products from the tribal regions of India. In the presence of dignitaries and guests, Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal inaugurated the corner on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, which is observed on November 15 to mark the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the great patriot and martyr.

Makar SankrantiThe Indian Cultural Centre celebrated Makar Sankranti – the Sun Festival of India – welcoming the harvest season in the country with the traditional Kite Festival and Rangoli Mela. Indian Ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal, his wife Dr. Alpana Mittal and ICC Coordinating Officer Xavier Dhanraj joined the celebrations at Ashoka Hall on the ICC premises.

January 26, 20228

The Defence Ministry of India has inked a nearly Rs 20,000 crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space of Spain

to procure 56 ‘C-295’ medium transport aircraft which will replace the ageing Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force.

It is the first project of its kind under which military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company, officials said.

Under the deal, 16 aircraft will be delivered in a flyaway condition by the Airbus Defence and Space of Spain within 48 months of signing the contract.

The remaining 40 planes will be manufactured in India by a consortium of the Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) within 10 years of signing the contract, officials said.

The Chairman of Tata Trusts, Ratan Tata, congratulated the Airbus Defence, Tata Advanced Systems Limited and the Defence Ministry on the inking of the historic contract.

In a signed statement posted on Twitter, Mr Tata said the clearance of the joint project between Airbus Defence and Tata Advanced

India seals historic airbus military aircraft deal

India successfully test-fired a naval variant of the advanced supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from a stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said the missile hit the designated target “precisely”.

“Advanced sea to sea variant of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise missile was tested from INS Visakhapatnam today. Missile hit the designated target ship precisely,” the DRDO tweeted recently.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the successful launch of the missile reconfirmed the robustness of the Indian Navy’s “mission readiness”.

BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms.

BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.

Navies of India, Russia conduct passing exercise in Arabian SeaThe navies of India and Russia conducted a passing exercise in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy said recently.

Indian Navy’s indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer INS Kochi exercised with Russian Federation Navy’s destroyer Admiral Tributs, it mentioned.

“The exercise showcased cohesiveness and interoperability between the two navies and included tactical manoeuvres, cross-deck helicopter operations and seamanship activities,” the Indian

Navy’s statement said. A passing exercise is done to ensure that two navies participating in it are able to smoothly coordinate and communicate in times of any disaster or war.

Navy successfully test-firesBrahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile

January 26, 2022 9

Systems to build the aircraft is a “great step” forward in the opening up of the aviation and avionics projects in India.

“It will create a domestic supply chain capability to international standards, which has never been undertaken before. The Tata Group congratulates Airbus and the Indian Defence Ministry for this bold step in fully building this state-of-the-art multi-role aircraft in India in support of the Make-in-India thrust to bolster the country’s equity framework,” Ratan Tata said.

The contract was signed two weeks after it was cleared by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security.

Airbus C-295 MW aircraft is a transport plane of 5-10 tonne capacity.

The in-principle approval for the Avro replacement programme was accorded around nine years ago.

A large number of detail parts, sub-assemblies and major component assemblies of aerostructure are scheduled to be manufactured in India.

The ministry had said that before completion of the deliveries, a servicing facility for C-295 MW aircraft is scheduled to be set up in India.

Rajnath Singh inaugurates Kalpana Chawla Research Centre to train students in space science Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science & Technology at Chandigarh University and said that it is an important step towards strengthening the space sector of the country. He also launched a Scholarship Scheme, worth Rs 10 crore, for the wards of Defence Personnel of the three Services

Named after India-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who lost her life in the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster, Rajnath said that this research facility would touch new heights of success, similar to the remarkable achievements of the late India-born astronaut. Stressing on the importance

of the space sector for India, Rajnath said that it is deeply connected with mapping, imaging and connectivity facilities, speedy transportation, weather forecast, disaster management as well as border security.

“In the 21st century, the future of India can be secured only when you have a gleam in your eyes to reach the stars and planets. More Indians like Aryabhata, Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and Kalpana Chawla will emerge from amongst you all if you eye different planets and constellations,” Rajnath Singh said.

The new space science research centre has been established with the objective of training students in space science, satellite development and meeting future challenges in space research. The centre will be the ground control station for Chandigarh University’s Student Satellite (CUSat), an in-house nano-satellite being designed by the students of the university, along with a Geo-Spatial Centre for research.

January 26, 202210

India is home to the largest engineering population in the world, and therefore the software exports industry in India has the potential to reach greater heights this year. Although software exports are a part of export-led growth stories, they seem to have been gaining momentum in recent years.

The Government has also been taking several measures such as communicating actively with RoDTEP (Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) rates, and releasing Rs 56,027 crore against pending tax refunds of exporters and steps to promote ease of doing business. So far, India has made commendable progress in maintaining a growth record for exports.

Steps have been taken to promote exports of goods and services by the Central Government which also includes the introduction of RoDTEP and Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Schemes, along with the launch of the Common Digital Platform for the Certificate of Origin to ease in trade and help building up FTA utilization by exporters.

There have also been initiatives taken to promote exports of goods and services by the government. These include, RoDTEP, Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Schemes, the Common Digital Platform, developing FTA utilization by exporters, export hubs being

promoted as districts, acknowledging obstacles and enabling a cooperative business environment.

The PLI schemes that were recently announced promise to support growth in the year, especially in electronics, mobile, drug and pharma sectors, which will also help in additional exports for the country. Along with the new Covid-19 variant spreading across some states, these are the deciding factors for the country to look out for to mark a 20% of growth in exports in addition to the government addressing the supply side challenges.

Exports for the month of January last year indicate double-digit growth as compared to the exports reports for the year 2020, when the economy was struggling due to the pandemic.

The trade deficit touched a record of US$23.27 billion in November with imports of gold and crude that have been growing doubly. With this, the Indian economy is also touching new heights and imports are rising steadily.

India’s exports industry is likely to continue with its upward trajectory in 2022, backed by

a global demand recovery and boost in domestic manufacturing due to production-linked incentive schemes (PLI) according to several reports. Outbound shipments have been estimated to cross the US$400 billion mark and are expected to reach US$475 billion in 2022-23, according to exporters.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) also made certain predictions pertaining to India’s global expansion, which marks a 4.7% increase in the coming year 2022.

The survey carried out by the RBI in September indicates that exports of software services as well as services delivered by foreign affiliates of Indian companies mark US$148.3 billion in March, 2021 which is more than US$145.3 billion, the oil sales in Saudi Arabia for the year 2021.

India on track to achievehistoric highs in exports

January 26, 2022 11

The first ministerial-level meeting of the joint committee of India and Qatar will be held this year while marking a historic moment in the

relation of two countries.

Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal told local Arabic daily Arrayah that Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is expected to visit India this year to attend the first meeting of the joint committee with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.

He explained that several visits at the ministerial and official level from India to Qatar are also planned.

“The bilateral relations between Qatar and India have developed a lot in the past year despite the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic,” the envoy said. “Both countries have supported each other during these unprecedented circumstances.”

“There was close co-operation and co-ordination between the two countries to deal with this challenge, including building resilient healthcare systems, safe and reliable supply chains, food security and more,” the ambassador added.

The Indian envoy hailed the support that Qatar gave to the people of India in its fight against Covid-19.

“Despite the pandemic, we have had some high-level visits, virtual exchanges and new initiatives

between various ministries and joint committees in foreign affairs, defence, economy, investment, energy, transportation, communications, security, law enforcement, health, and in the field of education,” he said.

“This year is special, with the opening of the first Indian university in Qatar,” the envoy noted, adding that the vibrant and diverse Indian community in Qatar also helped strengthen ties further, celebrating the 75 years of India’s independence with events like tree planting, blood donation, beach clean-ups, cultural events, festivals, and carnivals to host the Arab Football World Cup and other tournaments.

The ambassador said that the past year has witnessed wide bilateral participation and co-operation between the two countries on the developments in Afghanistan.

“The two sides have maintained regular contact through mutual visits and high-level consultations,” he said, adding that 283 Indians were evacuated from Afghanistan to India via Doha. Another important element on the joint agenda is preparations for the joint celebrations of the 50th anniversary of full diplomatic relations between India and Qatar.

The celebrations will be held in 2023.

“Both sides are keen to explore new areas of co-operation, including in space technology, information technology, entrepreneurship, cyber-security, artificial intelligence, academic and youth exchanges,” he added. “The NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Qatar’s communications satellite operator Es’hailSat are in contact and working on how Qatar can benefit from India’s space expertise.

India and Qatar are also preparing to work together in multilateral forums as well on global issues including climate change, counter-terrorism and cyber-security.

First ministerial level meeting of QatarIndia joint committee to be held this year

Dr Deepak Mittal

JAL JEEVAN MISSION

THE FLOWING SUCCESSOver the past few years, the government of India has launched several schemes, including the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission, to ensure that water does not become a limiting factor for the nation’s socio-economic development

By Bharat Lal

Water conservation is an integral part of India’s identity and cultural history. Water conservation in the form of rainwater harvesting is an ancient Indian tradition that has become more relevant in the present-day scenario. India

is home to 18 per cent of the global population and 15 per cent of livestock with only 4 per cent of freshwater resources, the availability of which has been decreasing over time.

The World Economic Forum, in its Global Risk Report, 2020, has recognised water as one of the top five global risks of long-term impact and NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index predicts a 6 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) loss due to decreased water availability in India. Therefore, water conservation is essential not only to overcome shortages but also for climate change risk preparedness and socio-economic development.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat, has appealed to Indians for water conservation and under his leadership, the government is undertaking several initiatives to promote water conservation activities across the country.

VAGARIES OF RAINFALLHydrologically, India is not endowed with water equity, both temporally and geographically. From June to September, the South-West monsoon contributes 70 per cent of total rainfall while the North-East monsoon from October to December contributes 30 per cent. But there is an enormous regional disparity as average rainfall varies from more than 2,000 mm in the Western Ghats and Sub-Himalayan areas of the North-East to less than 500 mm in western Rajasthan and the Deccan Plateau. On an average, India has 130 rainy days and more than 50 per cent of annual precipitation takes place in less than 100 hours. Groundwater use, considered a lifeline in most parts of the country, is also increasing.

India’s groundwater extraction is over twice as much as the US and China put together. With the dwindling per capita water availability, overexploitation of groundwater and inadequate storage availability, the Prime Minister’s appeal is timely for addressing this critical issue. Unless addressed now, the issue can become an impediment to our rapid socio-economic development.

January 26, 202214

THE GUJARAT MODELWater being a state subject in India, states are empowered to enact laws for its regulation. The reason for the Prime Minister’s call for a people’s movement in water conservation can be traced back to his pioneering role in integrated water management in Gujarat as the then Chief Minister, who took priority measures to provide safe drinking water in drought-affected areas of the state. After taking over as the state’s Chief Minister in October 2001, he had introduced several developmental initiatives to promote integrated water management to meet the increasing water demand of growing economic activities. The measures included people’s participation in all water conservation and management efforts like rainwater harvesting, artificial recharge with scientific planning and monitoring, strengthening of existing canal system and building new dams like the Sardar Sarovar dam, and distribution canal network. He also focussed on educating farmers in water conservation and the creation of the Water and Sanitation Management Organisation, to plan and implement decentralised, demand-driven and community-managed water supply systems in the villages.

The integrated water management approach became very successful in Gujarat. As compared to 2004, by 2017, Gujarat had a 50 per cent increase in the utilisable groundwater recharge and is continuously improving. Since 2001, agriculture production in the state has increased by 255 per cent. Today, more than 83 per cent of rural households in Gujarat have an assured tap water supply and more than 76 per cent of families are regularly paying monthly water service charges.

BREAKING THE SILO APPROACHOn a national level, in early 2019, PM Modi created the Ministry of Jal Shakti by bringing together all related ministries and departments under one umbrella. Demand and supply, quality and access – water, in all its manifestations, was finally taken up as a whole. This integrated approach to water management focussed on improving surface and groundwater availability; reversing the depletion of groundwater; improving water-use efficiency; improving service delivery in terms of provision of potable water to every household; addressing water quality issues and sustaining the Open-Defecation Free (ODF) status achieved through Swachh

BHARAT MISSIONOn August 15, 2019, PM Modi launched the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) for providing household piped drinking water supply to every rural home by 2024. The budget allocation for the mission in 2020-21 was INR 50,011 crore. In a short span of 18 months, the percentage of households with tap connections has increased to 7.30 crore (38.15 per cent).

“Just 1.5 years ago, 3.5 crore out of 19 crore rural families in the country had piped drinking water connection. After the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, about 4 crore new families have piped drinking water connections in such a short time”, said PM Modi. JJM has a holistic approach to water supply service delivery and scientifically addresses source sustainability, water supply, grey water treatment and re-use, and water works operation and maintenance. Every village prepares a one-time plan for five years called the Village Action Plan (VAP) capturing these details. Funds are dovetailed through the convergence of several rural programmes at a village level. The focus has shifted to the assured supply of potable water to every home rather than mere infrastructure creation. The global pandemic has made us realise that water is key to public health and productivity.

The Prime Minister’s timely call to all citizens for action on water conservation has generated enthusiasm among all key stakeholders to add their strength for the greater good of water security for all. The momentum thus generated from the success of various government initiatives needs to be maintained for ensuring water is both available and not destroyed, as mentioned in Yajurveda (an ancient Vedic Sanskrit text): “Amirtham vaaapaha; amirthasya aantharithai (let water be ever present and not destroyed)”.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee YojanaThe Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has the vision of ‘Har Khet ko Pani (water for every farm)’ and aims to improve water-use efficiency. It seeks to offer an end-to-end solution involving source creation, distribution, management, field application and extension activities. The special focus is on microirrigation using drip and sprinkler irrigation to enhance water-use efficiency.

100-day “catch the rain” campaignA campaign with the theme “Catch the rain where it falls, when it falls” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 22, 2021, coinciding with the World Water Day. It aims at tapping rainwater by constructing artificial recharge structures, revitalising existing ponds and water bodies, creating new water bodies, provisioning check dams, and rejuvenating wetlands and rivers before the onset of monsoon. It is also planned to create a database of all water bodies in the country by geo-tagging them and using this data to create scientific and data-based district-level water conservation plans.

Atal Bhujal YojanaIn December 2019, this programme was launched in 9,000 water-stressed villages across India to augment groundwater management. With an outlay of INR 6,000 crore, the scheme is being implemented in seven states – Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The Story Of My Experiments With The Truth (Mahatma Gandhi)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has always been a very prominent figure in Indian history. From his unbeatable spirit to inspiring courage, from various controversies to his life as the father of the nation, Gandhi has always been an interesting, inspiring and impressive personality to read about. If you want to know all about Gandhi and his journey, you cannot miss out on reading ‘My Experiments with the Truth’, his autobiography that covers his life from early childhood till 1921. The introduction mentions how Gandhi resumed writing at the insistence of a fellow prisoner at Yerwada Central jail. The autobiography was written as weekly journals and then compiled and published as a book. From his childhood memories, his experiments with eating meat, smoking, drinking and stealing to the demise of his father, the book captures many unknown instances of Gandhi’s life.

By Shreya Pareek

Books come as life savers in every situation. A long journey, a sleepless night or a lazy day, a book can be your companion in every mood. Cicero said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” And we couldn’t agree more. There is nothing stronger than the power of words. It always takes a lot of time to decide which book to pick as

there are thousands of options available. So save your time we present to you a list of gems of Indian English literature that you must read;

Gems of Indian literature

A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)

This is the second novel by Mistry published in 1995 and, like his first novel, Such A Long Journey, this novel too received wide acclaim across the globe. A fine balance revolves around various characters in Mumbai (then Bombay) during the time of turmoil and government emergencies. The story of friendship and love that progresses among the characters of the book will keep you hooked till the end.

The Guide (RK Narayan)

R.K Narayan is best known for stories based in and around the fictional village of Malgudi. The Guide is yet another story set up in Malgudi. R.K. Narayan won the Sahitya Akademi Award for the book in 1960. The Guide is the story of a tour guide who transforms himself into a spiritual Guru and then the greatest holy man of India. The book was also adapted as a film which starred the legendary actor Dev Anand.

Midnight’s Children (Salman Rushdie)

Midnight’s Children portrays the journey of India from British rule to independence and then partition. The book received a great response, winning the Booker Prize in 1981 and the “Booker of Bookers” Prize (commemorating the best among all the Booker winners) twice – in 1993 and 2008! The book travels to various parts of the country including Kashmir, Agra and Mumbai and incorporates many actual historic events. The book was also included in the List of 100 Best Novels of all time.

The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian (Nirad C. Chaudhuri)

This book made Chaudhari one of India’s greatest writers. Published in 1951, the book describes the life of the writer from the time he was born in 1897 in Bangladesh to his youth in Calcutta. The book is considered as Nirad’s masterpiece, beautifully capturing every minute detail of his surroundings and of modern India. It has received global acclaim over a period of time. Winston Churchill considered it one of the best books he had ever read. In 1998, it was included as one of the few Indian contributions in The New Oxford Book of English Prose.

Gitanjali (Rabindranath Tagore)

This collection of poems by Tagore was originally published in Bengali in August 1910 and had 157 poems. The English version has 103 poems. The collection includes Tagore’s translation of 53 original Bengali poems and 50 other poems from his drama Achalayatan. The poems are mostly of a spiritual bent, though some of the pieces also have a hint of nature. This collection won the Nobel prize for Tagore in 1913.

Contd on page 30

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has said that India is set to achieve 450 GW of renewable energy installed

capacity by 2030.

The MNRE, in partnership with FICCI, organised a series of events, from October 6-8 during the Climate and Biodiversity Week at Expo 2020 Dubai. The events covered themes like ‘India’s Renewable Energy Achievements and Ambitions; Emerging Areas and Opportunities for Renewable Energy in India. The events were anchored by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).

An event on the theme of ‘One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)’ was also organised by the International Solar Alliance promoting inter-connective across borders to harness solar energy without intermittency.

Addressing the MNRE-FICCI SECI event, RK Singh, Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, emphasised that the world is on the cusp of transformation, and immediate corrective steps are needed to mitigate climate change.

He highlighted that energy transition needs to be the first step in this direction.

He said that India is already ahead of what “we pledged in our Nationally Determined

Contributions (NDCs)” and added that, “already 39 per cent of our installed capacity is from non-fossil based sources. By 2022 we will reach our target of 40 per cent”.

“India is set to achieve 450 GW of renewable energy installed capacity by 2030,” an MNRE statement said.

Highlighting that transmission is a challenge and getting it into place is a work in progress, the minister said, “We are launching the Green Corridor Phase 2 and we are generally expanding transmission to put in place systems for renewable power evacuation from sites where irradiation is high, or wind speed is high.” Singh also said

India set to achieve 450 GW renewable energy installedcapacity by 2030: MNRE

that, intermittency of renewable power is another challenge for the entire world, highlighting that battery storage per unit is currently high and needs to come down. He added that the government is coming out with bids for battery storage.

Speaking on the opportunities for green hydrogen in India, Singh said, MNRE will work out with bids for electrolysers and that mandates for green hydrogen consumption in refining, fertilizer, piped natural gas.”

India has embarked on an exciting journey and is treading where no one has ventured before, and SECI will continue to work towards meeting the ambition of 450 GW by 2030, the minister said.

Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State, New and Renewable Energy, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, said the energy sector is set to undergo a drastic transformation across the globe and the future belongs to renewable energy.

This is going to be a collective effort and our energy transition will be inclusive and equitable so that no one is left behind. We welcome all our partners to come and invest in India and join us in this incredible journey, he added. He further said that in view of the 175 GW installed RE capacity by 2022 announced in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India surpassed the 100 GW milestone (excluding large hydro) in 2021. He also added that, as of now, India has only tapped a fraction of the vast potential for renewable energy and, therefore, India has raised the target to 450 GW RE installed capacity by 2030.

As the world recuperates from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is changing the norms of travel - with an increasing focus on rural tourism. With government assistance, this trend will not only encourage exchange of culture and experiences but also ensure financial support for the villages

By Kumar Anubhav

A SLICE OF VILLAGE LIFE

Tourists participate in a matka (earthen pot) race at Rajasthan’s annual Pushkar Fair.

January 26, 2022 19

In Lamhi village, on the outskirts of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, planning is afoot to start welcoming international tourists again post the Covid-19 pandemic. Popular among domestic tourists as the birthplace of legendary Hindi author

Munshi Premchand, Lamhi is a quintessential Indian village, surrounded by farmland, and its serene landscape dotted with grazing cattle and thatched houses. Its slow and basic lifestyle, a stark contrast to the hectic pace of cities, offers visitors a chance to enjoy the idyllic charms of Indian village life, making Lamhi a part of the rural tourism circuit being promoted in Uttar Pradesh.

What makes this small village even more attractive as a tourist destination is its proximity to well-known destinations like Varanasi and the Buddhist pilgrimage centre of Sarnath. “Tourists would be given wthe option of arriving at these rural destinations along the banks of River Ganga by boats,” regional tourism officer, Uttar Pradesh, Keertiman Srivastava said, addressing the media to explain how the state’s Tourism Department is working on a mega-plan to develop rural tourism in and around Varanasi in the post-pandemic times. As a part of the initiative, tourists would be given a tour of the idyllic surroundings, will be taken to see the village life in Kaithi, or be driven to Ramna and Kakarahia, or to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s adopted village Jayapur.

While over the past few years the tourism industry globally has been focussing on the importance of enjoying unique and leisurely experiences rather than ticking off sites from mass bucket-lists, the necessity to explore the unexplored and stay away from the crowd and as close to nature as possible, has been driven home during the pandemic. In India too, the treasures of the country’s agrarian life are being revealed to travellers more proactively, with state tourism departments working towards it. Their efforts were complemented by the theme of last year’s World Tourism Day (September 27) – Tourism and Rural Development. The theme set by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has a vision for utilising the tourism sector’s ability to support economic development of rural areas.

In Rajasthan, the state government is working towards creating innovative tourism programmes to attract travellers with unique experiences and to generate new opportunities in the rural areas. Alok Gupta, Principal Secretary (Tourism), Rajasthan, had said in a recent interview that while promoting rural tourism, the state’s focus would be on lesser-known tourist destinations and

experiences. In Bihar and Kerala too, rural tourism circuits are being developed and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has sanctioned two projects in these two states with a total budget INR 125 crore as a part of its endeavour to take tourism to the villages of the country. The projects will focus on the development of Bhitiharwa, Chandrahia and Turkaulia village circuit in Bihar (INR 44.65 crore) and in Kerala, the development of Malanad Malabar cruise (INR 80.37 crore).

TOURISM AND EMPLOYMENTRural tourism, or encouraging tourists to visit villages, not only enriches a traveller’s experience but also boosts the local economy. When tourists arrive in a village, they spend on fooding, lodging and on buying indigenous handicrafts and memorabilia.

Local artisans and craftspeople not only get new and direct buyers for their products, but also receive on-spot feedback from their customers. In certain cases, when international tourists arrive in villages, local craftspeople are exposed to design demands from across the world that they may have been receiving through middlemen, aiding them to evolve their work.

The biggest impact, however, can be seen in the rise of hotels and homestays. With the rise in rural tourism, household owners in even remote villages of the country have been encouraged to run homestays, offering tourists an opportunity to indulge in local traditions, culture and cuisine, thereby boosting the host’s income. In several villages, tourists, especially from abroad, often

participate in voluntary work for community growth, for example teaching in schools.

Tourism helps build a symbiotic relationship between urban and rural pockets via knowledge transfer. Travellers from urban areas can visit rural clusters and impart their knowledge, technology and resources to local communities in exchange for experiencing their culture and heritage.

CULTURAL RELEVANCEIndia’s rural communities are rich in cultural diversity and heritage. The villagers in these communities rely mostly on agriculture for their source of livelihood and are unable to capitalise their cultural heritage, resulting in the extinction of various age-old practices, arts and crafts. In today’s world, the relevance of rural tourism lies in the fact that there are many urban travellers who want to learn about these hidden cultural assets but are unable to, due to a lack of awareness about them. With the advent of tourists, these assets can become financially self-sufficient and self-sustainable. Rural tourism, thus, will not only act as a second source of livelihood but also as a means to protect the rich cultural heritage being slowly forgotten.

Away from bustling cities and popular tourist spots, villages can become sanctuaries of peace and wellness for travellers. Especially in the aftermath of Covid-19, when being close to nature, staying fit and boosting immunity in natural and traditional ways have become the new norms, a vacation in the village is an ideal solution. In India, with plenty of avenues for sustainable and rural tourism coming together with the collaboration of local people, responsible village travel is surely going to be what we call the new normal.

January 26, 2022 21

A Theyyam performance in Kannur, Kerala. Rural tourism offers visitors to experience local traditions and art forms from a close distance. Kannur is one of the districts being developed by the state and centralgovernments.

INDIA’S

HARNAAZ  SANDHU BRINGS Miss UniverseCROWN HOME AFTER 21 YEARSIndia’s Harnaaz Sandhu, the 21-year-old model

was crowned the Miss Universe 2021 topping a field of some 80 contestants. She entered the

top 3 finalists at the 70th edition of Miss Universe which was held in Eilat, Israel.

The previously reigning Miss Universe, Andrea Meza of Mexico, crowned her successor, a Bollywood actress, in the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat.

Harnaaz brought home the Miss Universe crown after 21 years. So far, India has won the crown twice with Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000.

Who is Harnaaz Sandhu?Sandhu is a Chandigarh-based model, pursuing her master’s degree in public administration. Sandhu is the daughter of Pritam Singh Sandhu and mother Dr Ravinder Kaur Sandhu. She also has a brother, Harnoor Singh, all of whom were elated about the victory.

Having finished her schooling as well as higher education in Chandigarh’s Post Graduate Government College itself, Sandhu was reported a “bright” and “sincere” student. She is also passionate about women’s empowerment and climate change.

In her previous interviews, Sandhu has said that she sees beauty pageants as a way for women to come forward and forge sisterhoods. She has also stressed the importance of being true to self over make-up in order to win beauty awards.

A long-time fan of actor and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra, Sandhu has been part of the film and entertainment industry for some time. She has appeared in films like Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange.

This is not the first beauty award for Sandhu who has been participating in beauty pageants from her teenage years. She has already won the Miss Chandigarh 2017 award as well as the title of ‘Miss Max Emerging Star India 2018’. In 2019, Sandhu won the Femina Miss India Punjab title, before going on to compete in the Femina Miss India.

Sandhu’s mother is a gynaecologist. Apart from pageantry, Sandhu has several other interests. The actor-model loves yoga, horse riding and cooking and according to reports, her favourite dish to eat is her mother’s homemade ‘makki ki roti’.

Sandhu on climate changeShe is an environmentalist and has spoken previously about global warming and climate

change. During the final question and answer round, when she was asked if global warming was a “hoax”, Sandhu said that her “heart breaks” to witness the damage being caused to nature “due to our irresponsible behaviour”.

“I feel that this is the time to take actions and talk less because every action of ours can either kill or save nature. To prevent and protect is better than to repent and repair and this is what I would like to convince you today”.

Advice to youthAccording to Sandhu, one of the biggest challenges that the youth of today facing is to believe in themselves. She wanted the youth, especially women, to know that they are unique. She also said that the young should stop comparing themselves to others and think about issues that have importance across the world.

“I would tell young women to believe in themselves, to know that you are unique and beautiful. Stop comparing yourself with others and let’s focus on the more important things happening across the world. Come out, speak for yourselves because you are the leader of your life. I believed in myself, and that’s why I am standing here today,” she said.

January 26, 202224

In his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the importance of bee farming as a part of the

Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and its potential in achieving the national goal of doubling farmers’ income. Calling it the “sweet revolution”, he highlighted Gurdum in north (West) Bengal, Banaskantha district of Gujarat and Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar, where farmers have seen much success because of bee farming.

BUSY AS A BEE Beekeeping is the rearing, caring and management of honeybees (Apis cerana indica) in boxes that recreate a beehive. It has been observed that low-cost beekeeping can increase the yield of local

crops with minimum efforts. Therefore, beekeeping is an alternative and additional source of income for farmers. With consistent efforts to build awareness and revive the agricultural ecosystem, beekeeping is gradually regaining its place in the ecosystem. Today, it has evolved as a source of additional income for many farmers. It is being adopted by the farmers, as it plays a significant role in increasing the agricultural yields through pollination of oilseeds, pulses, vegetables and fruits.

Sujana Krishnamoorthy, executive director, Under The Mango Tree (UTMT) Society, a Maharashtra-based organisation that promotes beekeeping with indigenous bees says, “The practice [of rearing honeybees] increases the output of fruits, vegetables, oilseeds and pulses – all of which are

grown by small farmers who practice subsistence farming. In fact, 10 beekeepers with two bee boxes each can improve crop production for entire villages, as bees pollinate in a two-km radius. Simultaneously, awareness about the importance of bees leads to reduced unsustainable honey hunting practices, which, in turn, improves biodiversity as wild flowering plants and trees also depend on bees for pollination.”

HELPING HANDSSrinivasan Services Trust (SST), the social arm of TVS Motor Company, has collaborated with the Tropical Institute of Ecological Science in Javadhu Hills, Tamil Nadu, to support farmers in tribal belts by providing honeybee boxes to involve them in

BE(E)ING Useful

Read on and find out how apiculture practices are not just aiding farmers to double their yield and revenue but also adding to the Prime Minister’s visions of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India

By Bindu Gopal Rao

January 26, 2022 25

apiculture and support their livelihood. This project has provided 150 honeybee boxes to 27 farmers. The successful project is earning an additional income of approximately INR 10,000 per annum for the farmers.

“An inspiring model of honey harvesting is the innovative technique adopted by Venkatesa Perumal Tribal Women Self-Help Group (SHG) of the Javadhu Hills in Tamil Nadu. This region is popularly known for its naturally-sourced wild honey. The 12-member SHG has successfully earned a sustainable livelihood by processing and selling Javadhu wild honey. The honey is collected from local honey collectors, who skillfully gather the golden nectar, ensuring the bees are not disturbed,” says Swaran Singh, chairman, SST.

The raw honey collected from the wild contain no added sugar, no added flavour and no preservatives. Around 62 honey collectors have benefitted from this, with an average income of INR 8,000 per collector over six months. The SHG has also been a part of the Honeybee Keeping Value Chain Project funded by NABARD and implemented by SST to expand apiculture in Javadhu Hills. The wild honey collectors were given training on scientific wild honey collection by TRIFED that has benefitted over 300 tribals with an income ranging from INR 8,000 to INR 10,000 once in six months, covering two seasons. Such proactive interventions enabled a turnover of INR 3.75 lakh for the beneficiaries in the FY 2020-21.

CROP BOOST The bee-farming market has been on the rise for the past few years with more and more farmers venturing into this arena. The rising demand for pure, raw honey has encouraged more farmers to establish bee farms. Although honeybee farming in India can be practised as a stand-alone commercial venture, the integration of apiculture with crop farming does wonders to increase the

crop yield while enabling the farmers to generate additional income. Saanwara Khod, founder, Farm to Fellas, a company providing farm fresh and 100 per cent natural food products says, “It would not be wrong to state that we depend on bees for our survival. More than 70 of the 100 major food crops is a result of their [bee] labour and their role as the chief insect pollinators. Small-scale and low-cost bee farming by small farmers, especially in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, has doubled the yield of local crops with no extra effort.

According to the Rapid Impact Assessment Study, 2011, bee farming enhanced the yield of tomatoes by 160 per cent and the production of fruits by around 60 per cent.” Several government organisations like the National Bee Board and the Central Bee Research Training Institute provide training to farmers in apiculture.

NATIONAL BEE BOARDThe National Bee Board (NBB) was reconstituted in 2006. The main objective of the board is the overall development of beekeeping by promoting scientific beekeeping in India to increase the productivity of crops through pollination and increase honey production so as to improve the income of the beekeepers/ farmers. The board also works towards the overall development of scientific beekeeping in India by popularising state-of-the-art technologies through the governmental schemes of the National Horticulture Mission and Horticulture Mission for the Northeastern and Himalayan states in the country. Noted scientist Albert Einstein had once said, “If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.” The Indian government, led by PM Modi, however, is leaving no stone unturned to provide aid to bee farmers and encourage apiculture. An increase in the production of honey will not only ensure higher crop yields and added income for farmers but also add to PM Modi’s mission of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, ‘Make in India’ and ‘Vocal for Local’.

Government InitiativesSome of the initiatives taken by the National Bee Board (NBB), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW) towards the promotion of beekeeping in the country include:n Preparation of National Beekeeping & Honey

Mission (NBHM) for overall promotion and development of beekeeping in the country.

n Setting up of Integrated Bee Development Centers (IBDC) in Bihar, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

n Integrated Development of Scientific Bee Keeping (IDSB) - Remunerative Approach for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and other associated schemes.

n Registration of beekeepers by NBB.n Involvement of National Dairy Development

Board (NDDB)/ Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF)/ milk cooperatives/ federations.

n Setting up of honey testing lab by NDDB, Anand, Gujarat.

n Efforts for standardisation of honey and other beehive products.

Source: nbb.gov.in

The fields of ecology and biodiversity have come a long way in India in the last few decades. They have seen a visible

transformation from a largely observational, field-related exercise to a blend of various subjects. Conservation biology has gained immensely from major scientific advancements, ranging from molecular genetic tools to space technology.

Information on ecological aspects of several species that could not be obtained earlier due to their cryptic nature or rarity is now easily accessible through these cutting-edge techniques. Such information is useful in conservation planning with respect to current actions required and future directions to be taken.

One of the first cases of technological intervention in Indian wildlife conservation was in the late 1990s at Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, to monitor large cats under the guidance of noted conservation zoologist and biologist Dr Ulhas Karanth. In the early 1990s, Dr Karanth and his team began long-term experiments with the help of camera traps to estimate the abundance of tigers in the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve. This was the first time in India that a wildlife population was being sampled in a systematic and laborious manner with a defined grid system. Ever since then, camera traps have been consistently deployed for an array of wildlife monitoring purposes in behavioural and ecological studies.

Today, new-age heat and movement sensor camera traps that can record images and videos in low light as well as conserve battery power have become tools of necessity for wildlife managers as well as conservation scientists across the country. Camera trap exercises result in capturing data that are used to estimate population size, species richness, site occupancy or relative abundance indices among other ecology-based studies. Currently, almost every wildlife habitat and wilderness area in India is under some form of camera trapping exercise, be it to assess fish fauna associated with seagrasses in the islands of Havelock and Henry Lawrence in Andaman and Nicobar Islands; monitor and conserve wild animals, including leopards, in the forest reserve of Jhalana in Jaipur, Rajasthan; track movements of the elusive snow leopards in the farthest reaches of the Himalayas or to study the distribution and habitat patterns of the Asiatic black bear in the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary located in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

Another use of high-end technology deployed in wildlife research leading to conservation is a radio telemetry device. The use of tracking collars is, today, one of the most common methods of monitoring large mammals in India. The list includes tigers, elephants, rhinos and a host of other animals. Radio tracking involves fitting the study animal with a radio collar or a radio device that emits signals. While these collars are designed to minimise impact

on the animals’ behaviour and to maximise their detectability, there are rigorous checks that are in place to ensure that the target species are not harmed by this method of study.

Most radio telemetry studies are structured on conservation and ecology-based modules that are required to understand animal behaviour, including conflict, human-wildlife interactions, wildlife diseases and habitat range, size etc. One of the first projects to use radio telemetry of king cobras was in Karnataka’s Agumbe settlement, led by noted herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, of the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station.

ON A WILD TRACKWildlife protection and conservation in India have hugely benefitted from the advancements in technology. Herpetologist and conservationist Nirmal Ulhas Kulkarni explains how scientific innovations are ensuring the tracking of species and aiding in the fight against poachers

Baby elephants stay close to their mothers in Jaldapara National Park in Dooars, West Bengal. These gentle beasts have been declared the national heritage animal by Government of India.

crime and ecological observations, while patrolling in their respective beats and ranges. The software system maps the patrol routes of forest guards and all resulting data is centralised and analysed in a geographic information system (GIS). This provides real-time information for wildlife managers to effectively enhance protection as well as habitat management measures and ensure long-term conservation of sensitive large cat habitats. An additional outcome is the evaluative impact of human pressures, including tourism, encroachment and cattle grazing, in the respective target areas.

Introduction of molecular studies (PCR based DNA sequencing) in India provided a platform for a non-invasive method of sampling, identifying and maintaining the identity of the species facilitating conservation efforts. PCR-based molecular studies offer an avenue for analysing damaged and degraded samples, including fossils, which helps in connecting the past and the present species, which, in turn, prioritise the conservation efforts of the species in the endangered list. With the introduction of mitochondrial DNA barcoding technique in India, the DNA barcode library is being prepared that will help scientists, researchers and conservation managers in easy identification of the species, including morphologically-cryptic ones. DNA-based phylogenetic studies provide better clarity among the relationship between the sister species, which is crucial for understanding the species and interspecies when it comes to relocating them from their habitat to new areas or their reintroduction to their native abode.

The array of methods and tools being used today in Indian forests to protect wild animals prove that the field of conservation and ecology advances, with the advent of technology, has matured as a discipline over the last few years in the country. These measures supported by positive policy changes by the government are helping shape India’s conservation strategies for the new millennium.

Molecular ecology and conservation genetics have contributed immensely to unravelling patterns and understanding the processes behind species’ histories and geographic distributions. Due to strong and deep synergy between bio-technology and information technology in recent times, India’s anti-wildlife crime agencies now have a strong base to identify and nail poachers and wildlife crime syndicates. Modern science-based technological breakthroughs have been made simpler and accurate with the introduction of DNA tests. Stellar contributions in this regard have been of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), who have developed a first-of-its-kind procedure to identify species of the animal from parts that have been confiscated.

Today, wildlife investigators need just a tiny piece of flesh, a drop of blood, a bunch of hair or a piece of bone, etc. for a test and results are available in record time. These DNA tests bypass the hurdles of poorly-preserved animal samples and even the quantity of samples. Scientists are now able to isolate the unique signature in the DNA fragment of the animal and quickly match it with the rapidly-expanding database of signatures from the animal world. The WII already has a signature bank of about 2,000 known animal species, which is expanding every year.

In 2010, the Indian government’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) launched the Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-StrIPES), a software-based monitoring system, across Indian tiger reserves. The primary objective of this cutting-edge software system is to strengthen patrolling and surveillance of India’s National Animal, the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris/ Panthera tigris tigris). Field staff in tiger reserves are equipped with handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) devices to capture data relating to tiger sightings, deaths, wildlife

In the current times, a project is being undertaken for arresting elephant deaths due to train collisions in north West Bengal. The project is a collaboration between the West Bengal Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh, and the Ear to the Wild Foundation. The project includes developing sensors aimed to detect elephant movement on railway tracks so that speeding trains can be alerted to slow down and avoid unnecessary deaths of Asian elephants. Once this project is successful, the deployment of high-end sensor technology, coupled with satellite connectivity and solar powered devices, will signal a new beginning for India’s human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures.

All species are essentially spatial communities and exhibit competitive behaviour when it comes to sharing their physical space and resources. Territorialisation of species and their behaviour need a strong mapping and analysis of demographics layered over the geographical and physiographical patterns and processes. Monitoring and mapping of this data over regional and temporal scales offer insights into population density, distribution, spatial heterogeneity and movement of the species, and its relation to the geographical aspects of habitats and large-scale environmental changes. Thus, spatial ecology and Geographic Information System (GIS) or remote sensing have become vital tools in mapping change in the fields of ecology and conservation.

A camera trap sensor. These devices are used for an array of wildlife monitoring purposes.

An Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus). These are usually found in northern parts of India and can also be spotted in the national parks of Ranthambore, Namdapha and Kaziranga.

According to a report recently published by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, more than 125 adult tigers roam in 644sq km protected area of the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka.

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n NEERAJ CHOPRA’S GOLDEN THROWThe 23-year-old Neeraj Chopra is undoubtedly the biggest Indian sports star to emerge last year after he won gold in the men’s javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics.

It was also India’s first Olympic medal in athletics and their first Olympic gold since Abhinav Bindra’s shooting triumph at Beijing 2008.

After topping his qualification group, Neeraj Chopra stepped up first in the final and hurled the javelin to 87.03m. He then improved it to 87.58m - a historic number that will forever be etched in Indian fans’ minds.

Chopra ended up as the only thrower to breach 87m and would have won gold even with his second-best throw. A truly dominant performance indeed.

n PV SINDHU’S DOUBLEWhen she won silver at Rio 2016, PV Sindhu was a 20-year-old who entered the grand stage without much expectation. At Tokyo, the Indian badminton star was a favourite to medal and did not disappoint.

After having a mixed run pre-Olympics, PV Sindhu showed her big tournament nous, sailing past an easy group stage. She then beat Mia Blichfeldt and Akane Yamaguchi - both accomplished opponents - in straight games in the knockout rounds.

Her run was halted by world No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying in the semis but PV Sindhu dusted herself off and regrouped to convincingly beat He Bing Jiao in straight games to win the Olympic bronze.

It made her the first Indian woman to win two individual Olympic medals and only the second Indian athlete to do so after wrestler Sushil Kumar.

n KIDAMBI SRIKANTH MAKES HISTORY AT BWF WORLDSIn the history of the BWF World Championships, only two men had ever won a medal and both were bronze. Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth made history when he became the first Indian male shuttler to enter the men’s singles final and eventually win silver.

Kidambi Srikanth, playing close to his best, overcame Pablo Abian, Li Shi Feng, Lu Guang Zu, Mark Caljouw and compatriot Lakshya Sen - dropping just two games - en route the final.

He was only defeated by the in-form Singaporean Loh Kean Yew in the final.

The 20-year-old Lakshya Sen also won a medal on his BWF World Championships debut, taking home bronze after making the semis. Indian men had doubled their tally at the BWF World Championships in a single edition.

n INDIAN PADDLERS SHINE AT ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPThe Indian men’s table tennis team comprising of G Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty, and Manav Thakkar created history by winning the bronze medal at the Asian Championship. This was the country’s second medal after 1976.

n HISTORIC TEST WIN AT GABBAThe Indian men’s cricket team defeated Australia at the Gabba stadium in a Test match. This was a historic win by Indians as they became the only cricket team to defeat Australia in Brisbane since 1998.

n RISING STAR SHAILI SINGHThe highly-talented long jumper Shaili Singh won the silver medal in the U-20 World Athletics Championships. The 17-year-old youngster missed on creating history by a mere 1cm but, the 6.59m jump was Shaili’s personal best.

n INDIAN WOMEN’S CHESS TEAMThe Indian women’s team created history at the FIDE World Women’s Team Chess Championship, as they clinched a silver medal. The team consisted of Dronavali Harika, R Vaishali, Tania Sachdev, Mary Ann Gomes, and Bhakti Kulkarni. This was India’s first-ever medal at the tournament.

India’s best sporting moments of 2021Indian athletes have showcased some of the best performances on the field in 2021. Be it the Tokyo Olympics, World Championships, or on Australia’s cricket grounds, let’s take a look at the top 10 sporting moments of 2021

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n ADITI ASHOK’S STUNNING PERFORMANCE AT TOKYO OLYMPICS

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. Even though she couldn’t win an Olympic medal, Aditi’s performance in Tokyo saw the nation of 1.3 billion people wake up at 4am to watch the golf star in action. Despite being ranked 300, she gave the best golfers in the world a run for their money.

n HOCKEY TEAM’S TOKYO TRIUMPHBoth the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams created history at the Tokyo Olympics. The men’s team won the bronze medal to end India’s 41-year

drought of going medal-less at the Olympics, while the women’s team couldn’t win a medal, they became the first Indian women’s hockey team to reach an Olympic semifinal in history. Both these achievements were huge for the teams as well as the country.

n ANSHU’S FEAT AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPThe 19-year-old Anshu Malik won the silver medal at World Wrestling Championship. The teenager also became India’s first-ever woman finalist in the tournament. it was a heroic performance from the young wrestler, who became the only fifth Indian woman to win a worlds medal and so far the best one.

Visva-Bharati University and Tagore’s visionVisva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan, celebrated its 100 years of

foundation recently. It was built by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, and later expanded by his son Rabindranath Tagore whose vision

became what is now a university town with the creation of Visva-Bharati. Santiniketan, popularly known today as a university town, a hundred miles to the north of Kolkata, was originally an ashram built by Debendranath Tagore, where anyone, irrespective of caste and creed, could come and spend time meditating on the one Supreme God. The area is flanked on two sides by the rivers, the Ajay and the Kopai. Rabindranath Tagore first visited Shantiniketan in 1873 when he was 12 years old. In 1888, Debendranath dedicated the entire property for the establishment of a Brahmavidyalaya through a trust deed. In 1901, Rabindranath started a Brahmacharyaashrama and it came to be known as Patha Bhavana from 1925.

Rathindranath Tagore was one of the first five students at the Brahmacharya ashrama at Santiniketan. Santiniketan embodies Tagore’s vision of a place of learning that is unfettered by religious and regional barriers.

Rabindranath founded a school for children at Santiniketan and it was around this nucleus that the structure of an unconventional university developed. Tagore was one of the first to support and bring together different forms of arts at Santiniketan. Tagore encouraged artists such as Nandalal Bose to take up residence at Santiniketan and devote themselves full-time to promoting a national form of art. Shantiniketan was established with the aim of helping education go beyond the confines of the classroom, Santiniketan grew into the Visva Bharati University in 1921.

About Visva-BharatiThe Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, is the country’s oldest central university.

Visva Bharati was established as a centre for culture with the objective of exploring the arts, language, humanities, music etc. It was also declared an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament in 1951.

In May 1951, Visva-Bharati was declared to be a Central University and “An Institution of National Importance” by an Act of Parliament. It was granted the status of a unitary, teaching and residential university.

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God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy)

The debut novel by Roy, which took almost four years to finish is a story of fraternal twins and how small things make a large difference in people’s lives and behavior. The book was awarded the Booker Prize in 1997 and is Roy’s only published novel so far. The story narrated in third person isset in Kerala, and takes place in 1969.

The Interpreter Of Maladies (JhumpaLahiri)

This is a collection of nine stories by Lahiri. The stories are based on lives of Indians and Indian Americans who are lost between the two cultures. The book was published in 1999 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award in the year 2000 and hassold over 15 million copies worldwide.

A Suitable Boy (Vikram Seth)

Published in 1993, this 1349-pages-long-book is one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in the English Language. The story focuses on India post-partition as a family looks for a suitable boy to marry their daughter. Seth’s follow up book A Suitable Girl is expected to be releasedin 2016.

In Custody (Anita Desai)

The book portrays the life of a Hindi teacher whose heart lies in Urdu poetry. A heart-touching and funny story takes a twist when the lead character, Deven, in an attempt to escape from his monotonous life, grabs an opportunity to interview India’s greatest Urdu poet , but it doesn’t turn out as expected. The book was shortlisted for theBooker Prize in 1984.

The Glass Palace (Amitav Ghosh)

This book won Grand Prize for Fiction at the Frankfurt International e-Book Awards in 2001. The story is set in Burma and focuses on various issues during the British invasion in 1885. The novel beautifully portrays the circumstances and incidents that made Burma, India and Malaya what they are today. This story of the empire, love andthe changing society is definitely worth reading.

The Inheritance of Loss (Kiran Desai)

The book, written over a period of seven years after her first book, portrays different conflicts between various Indian groups, in the past and at present. It shows how people find the English lifestyle fascinating and also captures the perception of various opportunities in the US. The book won Desai various awards including the Man Booker Prize in 2006 and the National Book CriticsCircle Fiction Award.

Red Earth and Pouring Rain (VikramChandra)

Red Earth and Pouring Rain won the 1996 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book. The novel is inspired by the biography of JamesSkinner, a legendary nineteenth-century Anglo-

Indian soldier. It also combines Indian myths and history into a story of three college kids. Written in the pattern of a story within a story, the book relates the tale of two characters and has amythological touch with a modern subplot.

Maximum City (Suketu Mehta)

This New York based writer was born in India and was raised in Mumbai in his early years. He penned down his experiences in Mumbai in his incredible work Maximum City, published in 2004, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2005. The book is a mix of travel writing, a journal, a socio-political analysis of people and wonders of Mumbai. It won the 2005 Vodafone Crossword Book Award. The Economist named Maximum City as one of its books of the year for 2004. It was also shortlisted for the 2005Samuel Johnson Prize.

The Private Life of an Indian Prince(Mulk Raj Anand)

This book was published in 1953 and is considered as one of the Anand’s finest works. The story revolves around abolition of princely states in India, focusing on the life of a King and his fascination towards one of his mistresses. The story has some real life incidents which are beautifully convertedinto fiction.

Train to Pakistan (Khushwant Singh)

Train To Pakistan is a compelling portrayal of the partition of India. The book touches upon the human angle and brings out the sense of reality and horror. The way Singh has described a village where a peaceful and loving community transforms into one driven by hatred and fear is remarkable. The description of the characters gives a lift to the book and makes it all the more interesting to read. Published in 1956, the book has also been translated into Tamil and has beenadapted into a film with the same name.

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