The Vice President of India recently launched the 36th Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad, Haryana. He urged attendees to consider locally produced handicraft items as gifts for friends and family. The annual event is organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority & Haryana Tourism in conjunction with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs. It aims to support skilled artisans who utilize traditional methods but struggle due to competition from cheaper, machine-made alternatives.
Surajkund International Crafts Mela
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela occurs yearly in February. The North Eastern Region (NER) is designated as the Theme State for 2023 in support of India’s Look-East & Act-East Policy. The partner country for this year is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The crafts fair is a platform for the promotion of artisans who practice indigenous technology. Yet, these traditional craftspeople face hardship due to the prevalence of inexpensive machine-produced imitations in the market. The recently announced Union Budget 2023-24 includes several initiatives to assist these artisans. These measures include the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman, Mudra Yojana, One District, One Product and Unity Malls programs.
Advancements in Coal Mining: Drone Technology and VIHANGAM Platform
Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), one of the principal CPSEs under the Ministry of Coal, has introduced drone technology into coal mining. This innovation comes in the form of the VIHANGAM web-based portal, a drone, and a ground control system. This technology allows an authorized person to access real-time drone footage from the mine. The pilot project, currently operational at Bhubaneswari and Lingaraj opencast mines in Talcher Coalfields (Odisha), uses drones for environmental monitoring and photogrammetric mapping for the digitalization of mining processes.
Operation SADBHAVANA: An Indian Army Initiative
The Indian Army has launched ‘Operation SADBHAVANA,’ a series of welfare activities aimed at children living in remote areas of Ladakh. Currently, seven Army Goodwill Schools operate under this initiative, serving over 2,200 students. The 22-23 FY has seen the introduction of medical and veterinary camps, the provision of medical equipment, and improvements in medical infrastructure. Women living in remote Ladakhi areas are also benefiting from Vocational Training Centres, Women Empowerment Centres, and Computer Centres funded by Operation SADBHAVANA.
Global Food Prices: Insights from FAO
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), world food prices fell in January 2023. This drop marks the 10th consecutive month of falling prices. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks globally traded food commodities, averaged 131.2 points in January 2023, down from 132.2 points in December 2022. The FAO has also raised its forecast for global cereal production in 2022. The FAO, based in Rome, Italy, is part of the United Nations and leads international efforts to combat hunger. It operates alongside sister organizations like the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
