NEHHDC achieves Oeko-Tex Certification for Eri Silk, marking a milestone for Northeast’s unique vegan silk

• August 16, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Eri Silk is renowned as the world’s only vegan silk, where, unlike other silks, the moth inside the cocoon is not killed. Instead, the moth naturally exits the cocoon, leaving it behind for us to use. This ethical and eco-friendly process sets Eri Silk apart, making it a symbol of compassion and sustainability in the textile industry. The Oeko-Tex certification, a rigorous standard that ensures textiles are tested for harmful substances and produced in environment friendly conditions, is a significant endorsement for Eri Silk. This achievement further cements the silk's status as a Geographical Indication (GI) product of Assam, highlighting its authenticity and regional importance. This certification marks a pivotal step in bringing Eri Silk closer to penetrating the global export market, expanding its reach, and establishing a strong international presence. The recognition underscores NEHHDC’s commitment to promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Assam while embracing sustainable practices.

Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme

• August 08, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) is being implemented with objective to motivate youth representing different sections of the society including SC/ST/Women, differently abled, Ex-servicemen and BPL persons to consider self employment or entrepreneurship as one of the career options. The ultimate objective is to promote new enterprises, build capacity of existing MSMEs and inculcate entrepreneurial culture in the country.

PM Vishwakarma Scheme

• August 08, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Government introduced the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in 2023-24. The Scheme was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 17.09.2023. The Scheme aims to provide end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople of 18 trades who work with their hands and tools. The Scheme components include recognition through PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card, Skill Upgradation, Toolkit Incentive, Credit Support, Incentive for Digital Transactions and Marketing Support. The Scheme has been rolled out across the country and its benefits have been initiated.

Economic landscape for tribal communities

• August 08, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs through its two agencies namely Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) & National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC) have contributed significantly in promoting economic activities being undertaken by the tribal communities and have impacted in turn their economic development. TRIFED empaneled 4903 tribal artisans/suppliers and realized sale of around Rs. 186 crores by marketing of various categories of tribal products since 2019-20. NSTFDC disbursed concessional loans over Rs. 1577 crores to around 3.24 lakh beneficiaries since 2019-20. 

Preservation of tribal languages

• August 08, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, under the ‘Support to TRIs scheme’, provides financial support to the Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in States/UTs for the projects/activities undertaken for the preserving and promoting of tribal languages and dialects as mentioned below.

Preparing Bilingual Dictionaries and Trilingual Proficiency Modules in tribal languages.
Preparing Primers for students of Class I, II and III in tribal languages under Multi-Lingual Education (MLE) Intervention in the line of New Education Policy 2020. Publishing Varnamala, local rhymes, and stories in tribal languages.
Publishing books and journals on different tribal languages to promote tribal literature
Documenting folklore and folktales of different tribes for preservation and promotion of tribal folk tradition. Collecting oral literature (songs, riddles, ballads etc.)
Translation and publication of Training module about Sickle cell anemia disease awareness Module I and Diagnosis & Treatment Module II in local Tribal Dialects
Conducting conferences, seminars, workshops, and poetic symposiums.

Over 1.23 Lakh students enrolled in Eklavya Model Residential Schools in 2023-24; 405 EMRSs functional across the country

• August 07, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

At present, a total number of 708 Eklavya Model residential Schools (EMRSs) have been sanctioned across the country, out of which 405 schools are reported to be functional. Under the new scheme of EMRS, Ministry releases funds to National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), the autonomous society created in the year 2019 under the Ministry to manage and implement the scheme of EMRS, and NESTS further releases funds to States/ UTs/ PSUs/ Construction Agencies/ State Societies as per their requirements for construction of EMRSs and recurring cost for running of the schools. Prior to 2020-21, this scheme was a component under Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India and no separate budget allocation was made for the scheme of EMRS.

Prime Minister wishes on National Handloom Day

• August 07, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today wished the people on occasion of National Handloom Day. While praising the efforts of Indian artisans, he reiterated the Government’s commitment towards ‘Vocal for Local’ intitative.

Financial assistance to traditional fishermen

• August 07, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Department of Fisheries, Government of India under the erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) “Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries” implemented during 2015-2020, had approved proposals of coastal States/UTs with a total project cost of Rs. 734.40 crore for acquisition of a total 918 deep-sea fishing vessels for traditional fishermen. Subsequently, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India had launched the flagship scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)” with a vision to bring Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of Fisheries sector in India with an investment of ₹20050 crore in fisheries sector for a period of 5 years (2020-2025). PMMSY inter alia provides financial assistance for acquiring deep sea fishing vessels by traditional fishermen at the unit cost of Rs. 1.20 crore, as well as for upgradation of existing fishing vessel for export competency with the unit cost of  Rs. 15 lakh; wherein 40% subsidy is provided to general category beneficiary and 60% subsidy is provided to SC/ST/Women beneficiaries.

North Eastern Region Agri-Commodity E-Connect Web Portal

• August 07, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

North Eastern Council (NEC) under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) in collaboration with North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi) has recently introduced a digital initiative called North Eastern Region Agri-Commodity E-Connect (NE-RACE) to provide market linkage for agricultural and horticultural products from the North Eastern Region (NER) in both fresh and processed forms. This initiative, available as a web portal and mobile app was launched by Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister of Communication & MDoNER, on 12 July 2024 at Shillong.  The NE-RACE digital platform is funded by NEC and is developed and managed by the NEDFi. Through this portal/app, producers such as Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs)/farmers collectives, Self-Help Groups, progressive farmers, and entrepreneurs in the agri and food processing sectors can directly showcase their products to prospective buyers minimizing the role of middlemen and fostering trust and long term business relationships.  

Ministry of Textiles empowers Ginners to produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand: QR based certification technology to provide complete traceability of Kasturi Cotton Bharat

• August 06, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Kasturi Cotton Bharat programme of Ministry of Textiles is a pioneering effort in traceability, certification and branding of Indian cotton. The details of Kasturi Cotton Bharat program and implementation of block chain technology for traceability. Kasturi Bharat initiative, a collaboration between the Government of India, trade bodies, and industry, was formalized with a budgetary support of Rs. 30 crore including Rs.15 crores from Trade & Industry Bodies through a MoU signed on15.12.2022 between Cotton Corporation of India on behalf of Government of India, Ministry of Textiles and The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council. To provide complete traceability of Kasturi Cotton Bharat tagged bales across the supply chain, QR based certification technology are being used at each stage of the processing and a Block-chain based software platform will provide end to end traceability and transaction certificate. In this regard, Microsite with QR code verification and Block Chain technology has been developed.