The 13th edition of the Olive Crown Awards took place in the bustling city of Mumbai, India. Hosted by the International Advertising Association, this prestigious event aims to honor individuals and corporations that have significantly supported and advocated for sustainability through ‘green advertising’. This year, the award categories included ‘Green Agency of the Year’ and ‘Green Campaign of the Year,’ among others.
Prominent winners of these highly-coveted awards were numerous. P. N. Mohan stood out as the recipient of the ‘Green Crusader of the Year Award due to his dedicated efforts in rejuvenating seven lakes near the city of Chennai. Corporate giant, Kirloskar Limitless, bagged the gold in the ‘Corporate Crusader of the Year’ category for their impactful ‘A Minute for Nature’ initiative. Additionally, Famous Innovations, Chirag Rural Development Foundation, and the People for Animals Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre all had a successful run, collectively securing multiple awards across various categories.
India Reaches 100% Rice Fortification Target
In an ambitious stride towards ensuring nationwide nutritional security, 269 districts across 27 Indian states successfully achieved the Phase II target of the Rice Fortification Program by March 2023. This program’s central goal is to distribute fortified rice under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) to every Social Safety Net Scheme in the country by 2024.
Phase II involved lifting and distributing 105 Lakh Metric Tonnes of fortified rice to states and union territories under the TPDS. An additional 29 LMT was lifted by states and union territories under Integrated Child Development Services and PM POSHAN. Overall, the total amount of fortified rice lifted in the fiscal year 2022-23 was around 134 LMT. As the next phase approaches, the department is gearing up to extend this coverage to all remaining districts by March 2024.
To clarify, fortification is a process that involves improving the nutritional value of staple foods like rice by incorporating vital vitamins and minerals including iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A and D.
The Plight of the Konda Reddi Tribe
The Polavaram-Konda Reddi tribe, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Andhra Pradesh, is currently grappling with a cultural shock due to changes in their environment. Specifically, they are being affected by the fact that their new settlements do not have access to the Godavari River, a critical resource for the tribe.
The Konda Reddi tribe traditionally inhabits the hilly forest regions in both the East and West Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh, apart from areas in Khammam (Telangana) and Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh). The tribe’s livelihood principally revolves around shifting cultivation, collection of non-timber forest products, and basket-making.
Thira Dance: Invoking Gods Through Dance
In the picturesque Malabar region of Kerala, a unique ritualistic dance known as ‘Thira,’ or ‘Theyyam thira,’ captures the attention of locals and tourists alike. This art form is performed by the artists of the Malaya community, referred to as “perumalayans.”
The dance is performed annually during the temple festival, Utsavam. Thira is similar to the Theyyam dance and is considered a sub-division of it. However, a key difference is that the performers in Thira are believed to be possessed by the god they are representing. This practice creates an ethereal atmosphere and helps bring the gods to life.
A notable aspect of Thira is the use of toddy, a local alcoholic beverage, which is offered to the gods and consumed by the dancers. The performers are typically from the Peruvannan caste, holding a crucial role in Thira dance proceedings. It is important to mention that both upper caste Brahmins and lower caste tribals are crucial to the worship practices in Kerala.