Union Cabinet approves new Central Sector Scheme ‘PM Vishwakarma’ to support traditional artisans and craftspeople of rural and urban India

• August 16, 2023

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi  approved a new Central Sector Scheme “PM Vishwakarma” with a financial outlay of Rs.13,000 crore for a period of five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28) on 16 August 2023. The scheme aims to strengthen and nurture the Guru-Shishya parampara or family-based practice of traditional skills by artisans and craftspeople working with their hands and tools. The scheme also aims at improving the quality, as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople and to ensure that the Vishwakarmas are integrated with the domestic and global value chains.

First-ever WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

• August 16, 2023

Source: Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Ayush and World Health Organisation are organising the two day Traditional Medicine Global Summit, on 17th and 18th August 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Secretary, Ministry of Ayush Mr Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha brief the media on 16 August 2023 at Gandhinagar, Gujrat ahead of the first global summit on traditional medicine. Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Shri Lav Agarwal also addressed the media. The Union AYUSH Secretary highlighted that the Global Centre on Traditional Medicines in Jamnagar, Gujarat, established by the WHO, is the first such centre in a developing country. He also informed that the WHO will convene the Traditional Medicine Global Summit, co-hosted by the Ministry of AYUSH, on 17th and 18th August, 2023 in Gandhinagar which will explore the role of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine in addressing pressing health challenges and driving progress in global health and sustainable development.

NEHHDC, Tide join hands to promote small weavers and artisans of North East India

• August 16, 2023

Source: The Economic Times

In a bid to digitise the handloom and handicraft sector in North East India, Tide, UK's SME-focused business financial platform has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC). As part of the year-long partnership, the company will look at bolstering scalability, financial inclusion and market reach for the community of nearly 2.1 million handloom weavers and 3.5 million handicraft artisans across 800 clusters in Northeast India. As a part of the MoU, Tide will help in financial and digital inclusion of weavers and artisans from the region and host mentor panels and masterclasses with in-house experts in leadership, marketing, capital investment, hiring and payroll, taxation, and legal, among others. The company will also help the community network and build capabilities through a series of annual national-level SME events.

Traditional Institutions: Government of Meghalaya has already notified several Sacred Forests as Community Reserves under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

• August 10, 2023

Institutions such as traditional village durbars in Meghalaya play a vital role in Meghalaya’s society and economy, inter alia environmental conservation and raising awareness about sustainable practices.  The traditions such as conservation of sacred groves, prevention of over-exploitation of natural resources such as forests; managing springs and other water sources wisely, customary law discouraging hunting of wild animals, are helpful in protecting ecology. Government of Meghalaya has already notified several sacred forests as Community Reserves under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.  Also, the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) of the Government have brought development to the communities by providing them alternative livelihood opportunities.

World Tribal Day: know history, theme, importance of Indigenous People

• August 09, 2023

Source: Business Standard

The World Tribal Day is observed on August 9 every year to support and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous people. Today is also the day to acknowledge the important contributions and achievements of the tribal communities around the world towards making a better world, such as environmental conservation. Also referred to as World Indigenous Day or International Day of World's Indigenous People, this day offers an excellent chance to effectively work towards defending the fundamental rights of tribal communities around the world.

Three New Studies on Indigenous Conservation for International Indigenous Peoples Day

• August 09, 2023

Source: Mongabay : News and Inspiration from Nature's Frontline

Indigenous peoples and local communities have critical intimate knowledge of climate change impacts and adaptation options in their lands while the majority of those lands are under threat from industrial development, according to scientists and other researchers involved with three studies. Coinciding with the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, August 9, researchers involved with a study of Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ in-depth knowledge of climate change impacts and adaptation are calling for scientists and policy-makers to recognize that knowledge, which includes changes in atmospheric, physical and biological systems as well as impacts on local livelihoods.

How weavers are taking the handloom story forward

• August 05, 2023

Source: Mint

For decades, revivalists have been trying to create awareness about handlooms but the slow switch from fast fashion and factory-made fabric has been confined to certain pockets. 2019 brought with it some rather dismal news—according to the fourth All India Handloom Census (2019-20), the number of handloom workers had fallen from 6.5 million in 1995-96 to 3.5 million. While the buzz around handloom has grown in the past few years, it is clearly not helping the weaver families, where the next generation is moving away from its traditional craft.

Sangeet Natak Akademi takes up several important activities to promote and disseminate traditional art forms of the country

• July 31, 2023

Source: Press Information Bureau

Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna (Fellow) has been conferred from 1952, symbolizing the highest standard of excellence on a national basis, recognizing the sustained individual work of the highest professional order and contribution to the practice and appreciation of these arts through teaching and scholarship. The Akademi Ratna (Fellow) is conferred, as per the existing constitutional provision under Rule 12(vi) of the Rules and Regulations of the Akademi. As per the rule, the fellow is elected by a majority of at least three – fourth of the members, of the General Council of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, present, and voting. The fellowship is considered for artistes of outstanding merit in the field of Music, Dance and Drama or such persons having rendered outstanding service to the cause of music, dance & drama through their scholarship, research or original contributions as Fellows of the Akademi, provided they have been recommended for the election by the Executive Board. The total number of fellows is limited to 40.

Promotion of indigenous crafts of North-Eastern Region

• July 27, 2023

Source: Press Information Bureau

North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC), has as its objectives the development and promotion of the indigenous crafts of the North Eastern Region (NER) by connecting craftsmen to prospective markets and generating economic, cultural and social opportunities for them. NEHHDC launched its e-commerce portal, https://purbashree.comand operates mobile outlets “Purbashree on Wheels”. NEHHDC has also gone live on online marketing platforms viz. Amazon, India Mart, Trade India, Flipkart, GoCoop, GeM and most recently ETSY to connect the artisans with markets in India and abroad. For design interventions, technology up gradation, marketing collaboration etc. NEHHDC has signed over 30 MoUs with various entities; inter alia, Indian Institute of Management, Shillong; National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong; National Institute of Design, Jorhat etc. The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), and Government of India has nominated NEHHDC as ‘Nodal Agency’ for implementation of projects under the "Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)". NEHHDC is also registered as a Training Partner (TP) with the National Skill Development Council (NSDC) under the flagship program of Skill India of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Devastating rights violations against Indigenous People must end

• July 17, 2023

Source: UN News

Indigenous Peoples have the ancestral wisdom to guide humanity towards a more sustainable use of the Earth’s resources, yet they are systematically discriminated against and excluded, UN rights chief Mr Volker Türk warned on 17 July 2023. He was speaking in Geneva at the annual meeting on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, referencing in-depth conversations he had had in recent months with Indigenous representatives during missions to Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Kenya. He described the “unprincipled and devastating impact of extractive industries on the environment and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Their dispossession from ancestral lands, and the militarization of their territories.” He said they had described the negative impact of the climate crisis on their communities and “the scope of systemic discrimination and exclusion.” “It’s clear that these violations must stop”, he told the meeting.