The Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), established under the Department of Science & Technology in 1988, has recently launched two new initiatives – SAKSHAM Job Portal and a Seaweed Mission. The autonomous organization aims to foresee technology trajectories, support innovation, and assess the advances in technology for areas of national significance.
About SAKSHAM Job Portal-
SAKSHAM is an innovative portal that maps the skills of workers or Shramiks, as per the requirement of MSMEs and other industries across India. This all-India portal will aid in creating approximately 10 lakh blue-collar jobs.
Features of SAKSHAM-
The technologically advanced portal employs algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze geo-spatial information on the demand and availability of Shramiks, and skill training programs. It allows automatic updates related to Shramiks and the industries, particularly MSMEs via various digital platforms.
Advantages of SAKSHAM-
Workers can benefit from this initiative by being able to directly put forth their candidature to MSMEs and other employers, addressing their skill proficiency levels. SAKSHAM will also curtail the migration of Shramiks by providing job opportunities in nearby MSMEs. Industries, on the other hand, would no longer need to rely on middlemen or labour contractors for their manpower requirements.
Other Related Initiatives-
Several other platforms have been introduced such as the ShramShakti Portal (Ministry of Tribal Affairs), ASEEM Portal (Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship), and NMIS Dashboard (National Disaster Management Authority).
Seaweeds Mission- A Background-
India contributes between 0.01% to 0.02% to the worldwide seaweed production of 32 million tons, valued at approximately 12 billion US dollars. Despite having numerous benefits, commercial seaweed cultivation in the country is not occurring at a substantial scale like South-East Asian countries.
About Seaweeds Mission-
This mission aims at promoting commercial farming of seaweeds and its processing for economic value addition, aimed at boosting the national economy. It includes activities like establishing model demonstration farms and seaweed nurseries, setting up processing technologies in line with consumer preferences and food habits, and encouraging seaweed cluster development.
Advantages of Seaweeds Mission-
Seaweed farming in around 5% of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) can provide employment to 50 million individuals, augment ocean productivity, create a new seaweed industry, increase National GDP, mitigate algal blooms, sequester millions of tons of CO2, and potentially produce 6.6 billion litres of bioethanol.
About Seaweeds-
Seaweeds are primitive, non-flowering marine algae without roots, stems, and leaves that play a significant role in marine ecosystems. They form dense underwater forests known as kelp forests, which serve as nurseries for various marine life forms.
Location and Ecological Importance of Seaweeds-
Seaweeds are primarily found in shallow and deep-sea waters, estuaries, backwaters, and the intertidal region. They have significant ecological importance as they absorb excess nutrients, trap excessive mineral levels, supply organic nutrients, and release oxygen to balance out the ecosystem.
Role of Seaweeds in Climate Mitigation-
Seaweeds play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide. The concept of ‘ocean afforestation’ for seaweed farming has been proposed to remove carbon.
Other Utilities of Seaweeds-
Seaweeds have various utilities as they can be used in increasing aquaculture production, as fertilizers, in reducing methane emissions from cattle, combating beach erosion, and preparing toothpaste, cosmetics, and paints.
