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Loud and clear: on India-U.S. discord on market access (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: India-U.S. discord
Mains level: Trade sanctions between two countries

Context

•  After a scathing speech by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in New Delhi this week, it is no longer possible for the government to brush under the carpet its differences with Washington.
•  Speaking to Indian and U.S. businesspersons, Mr. Ross lashed out at what he called India’s unfair trade practices and “overly restrictive market access barriers”.
•  His comments followed a series of measures by the U.S. that have affected India.
•  These include a refusal to revoke or waive tariff increases made last year on steel and aluminium, an ultimatum that India “zero out” oil imports from Iran by May 2 even without securing comparable alternatives, and the decision to withdraw India’s GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) trade status.
•  Mr. Ross repeated President Donald Trump’s accusation that India is a “tariff king”, and threatened India with “consequences” if it responded to U.S. tariffs with counter-tariffs, something New Delhi had threatened but not yet implemented in the hope of hammering out a comprehensive trade package.
•  Despite rounds of talks, however, a package has remained elusive, and it is time for the government to articulate the problem on its hands.

Growing of U.S. aggression

•  In the face of growing U.S. aggression on the issue, the government that takes office after the election will have to urgently consider its options ahead.
•  Clearly, the strategy of the past year, to ignore the differences in the hope that the problems would be resolved or that the U.S.’s trade war with China would occupy the Trump administration more, has not worked.
•  New Delhi and Washington need to make a more determined attempt to sort out issues, starting from scratch if required, with tariffs.
•  While the 50-60% duties on motorcycles and cars and 150% duties on American liquor that India imposes need a second look, the U.S. must see that average tariffs imposed by India (13.8%) are not much higher than those levied by economies such as South Korea and Brazil.
•  In addition, the government will need to revisit some of its decisions like data localisation requirements and new e-commerce regulations, which were declared suddenly, while the U.S. must show some flexibility on India’s price caps on coronary stents and other medical devices.

Conclusion

•  The U.S. must understand the cultural differences over the labelling of non-vegetarian dairy products.
•  It is unlikely that the Trump administration will temper its “my way or the highway” approach to Iranian oil sales, and New Delhi will have to work closely with other countries to build alternative financial structures to avoid U.S. sanctions.
•  Where a compromise is not possible, the government should be ready to push back on unreasonable demands.
•  Perhaps the most worrying signal from Mr. Ross’s outburst was that Washington may not be willing to meet India halfway on trade issues. New Delhi must prepare accordingly.

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By established law and procedure (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Polity
Prelims level: Due procedure of law
Mains level: Various statutory and regulatory bodies

Context

•  A well-publicised case of a complaint by a former employee of the Supreme Court of India against the Chief Justice of India (CJI) has raised questions about legal provisions, procedural propriety and different facets of what could be categorised as principles of natural justice.
•  As a constitutional institution, the Supreme Court had to respond to the same.

In public domain

•  The procedure that was being followed cannot be criticised as being either illegal or otherwise arbitrary.
•  A procedure had to be devised as the circumstances were unique, without any precedent. The only guidance available was a ‘Report of the committee on in-house procedure (in brief “procedure”), drawn up by a meeting of the full court of the Supreme Court on December 15, 1999.
•  The procedure adopted is a public document available on the court website. It deals with situations involving a High Court judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court and a judge of the Supreme Court separately.
•  The procedure specifically states that even in the case of an inquiry into a complaint received against a judge of the Supreme Court, the committee shall hold an inquiry on the same pattern as the committee constituted to examine a complaint against a judge of the High Court.
•  The procedure does not expressly deal with the case of the CJI but it definitely would be applicable to the case of the CJI as well because the CJI is also a judge of the Supreme Court.
•  Thus, the procedure does not contemplate the participation of a legal practitioner because it would not be a formal judicial inquiry involving the examination and cross-examination of witnesses by lawyers.

Legal precedent

•  The procedure laid down in the in-house procedure has been adhered to in the present case. The law in Indira Jaising has also been adhered to.
•  The complainant does have remedies in law.
•  The principles of natural justice which are alleged to have been violated in the present case, by the refusal on part of the committee to afford the complainant a right of legal representation and the decision not to publish the report of the committee, do not and cannot have a straightjacketed approach.
•  What has been done by the committee is in accordance with the procedure that is laid down.
•  In doing so, it cannot be said that there is a violation of natural justice for the simple reason that what is involved is not a judicial inquiry but a fact-finding one. A right of legal representation is not inherent in such an inquiry.

Way forward

•  The higher judiciary of this country is an institution to be cherished and its reputation is a matter dear to every citizen of this country. Some of us are more vocal than the rest, but all of us are stakeholders.
•  The Supreme Court and the High Courts are constitutional institutions and the men and women who occupy positions in the higher judiciary are required to be persons of impeccable integrity.
•  When such complaint is made, it has to be inquired into in accordance with the procedure that is laid down by the full court of the Supreme Court itself, and the said in-house procedure has been laid down keeping in mind the constitutional ethos.
•  The said in-house procedure has all the attributes of law. It is a law governing such situations.
•  Where the law is adhered to, claims for deviation therefrom or complaints of adherence to it cannot be countenanced.

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India needs to rework its US strategy (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Iranian oil sanctions
Mains level: India US relations

Context

• We’ve come a long way from when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the White House and bear-hugged President Donald Trump.

• Since then, India-US relations have had highs and lows. On the strategic front, it’s unquestionable the Americans worked the phones after Balakot and campaigned to have Masood Azhar declared an international terrorist, much to Pakistan’s chagrin.

• But India has been one of the worst hit by Washington’s Iranian oil sanctions.

• US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross also struck an acrimonious note in Delhi when he said India would be breaking WTO rules if it retaliated against withdrawal of trade privileges giving 3,000 Indian goods duty-free US access.

Relationship between two nations

• It’s been clear for some time that the initial Trump-Modi display of bonhomie hid a harsher reality. Trump frequently harped on Indian taxes on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

• He wasn’t in the least mollified even after India cut duties to 50 per cent. Motorcycles are, of course, a tiny irritant in the India-US trade basket. Two US giants, Walmart and Amazon, have been hit by India’s sudden decision to alter e-commerce rules relating to online sales of products.

• Washington is also battling India’s data localisation drive. Ross cited Mastercard’s issues and argued India’s stand is discriminatory.

• India’s new price controls on medical devices like stents have riled the US as well and some companies consequently aren’t bringing their latest models to this country.

• Also, the US is pushing India to relax food import policies and Trump’s even raised the issue of taxes on American whiskey. In fact, he’s been clear he won’t be satisfied till India’s US trade surplus is eliminated.

Way forward

• Still, move to a strategic level and the India-US relationship looks less grim.

• The Americans weren’t happy when India tested its anti-satellite missile in March but kept criticism muted.

• Also, after Pulwama, US National Security Advisor John Bolton made it clear where Washington’s sympathies lay when he called his Indian counterpart and even asserted India’s right to self-defence.

• The US’s also said to have played a behind-the-scenes role to get Pakistan’s swift release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

• During his India trip, Ross made it clear India-US relations could benefit immensely if India buys US weapons.

• But if truth be told, US disagreements with India are relatively small beer compared to fights Washington has picked with China and allies like the EU.

• Importantly, what Ross’s visit has underlined though is that as India becomes an ever more key global economic player, it can’t afford to arbitrarily chop and change its financial and commercial rules. Clearly, India needs a Trump strategy.

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Creating a high-skills ambience in India (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Economy
Prelims level: Schemes related to formal skilling
Mains level: Skilling unemployed youth

Context

• The small and informal sector is the backbone of the Indian workforce.

• Over 82 per cent of the workforce is engaged in the informal sector which, by definition, comprises small enterprises. Nearly 40 per cent of these informal workers are also single, own-account workers.

• As we move ahead, the small and informal sector will continue to be the primary source of employment and entrepreneurship. At the same time, despite engaging such a large proportion of the workforce, the productivity of such enterprises remains low.

• Despite the massive workforce, the informal sector contributes to only about 50 per cent of India’s GDP.

• Improving access to formal skills can be a transformative lever for the informal sector.

• It can also help create mass entrepreneurs who are not single, subsistence-driven, but have the capacity to be job creators and help the workforce transition steadily from the informal to formal.

Limited awareness in formal skilling

• Small and informal business owners often see limited benefit of formally skilled workers due to a lack of awareness of the productivity and income gains that can accrue because of skilling.

• This problem also extends to parts of the formal sector, which is experiencing increased ‘contractualisation of labour’.

• These formal employers might not see any incentive to invest in training, given the temporal nature of the occupation and high attrition rate for the ‘contract employees’.

Cost and time of training:

• Around half of the workers employed in the non-agriculture sector work in enterprises that employ less than two people on an average. This low number increases the opportunity cost of training per worker and discourages small and informal enterprise owners from investing in training.

• Entrepreneurs also find it difficult to upskill themselves as they already face time and financial constraints in their business. Finally, potential workers who do get formally skilled, demand a wage premium that small enterprises are unable to afford.

Lack of alignment

• Small enterprises often depend on workers who perform multiple tasks and thus need their employees to be trained in multiple skills.

• The current formal skilling programmes are often not designed for this and tend to be specific to a job role.

• The current programmes also provide full-time and non-local solutions while firms need flexible, hyper-local models. This combination limits the effectiveness of the initiatives.

Boosting demand

Provide incentives and increase awareness to drive demand for formal skills training:

• Giving financial and non-financial incentives to enterprises in the informal sector has the potential to mitigate the cost and time pressures of engaging workers in formal training and increasing uptake of skilling programmes.

• Further, as small firms experience the productivity gains from investments in skill building, the demand for skilling of their workforce will increase. For example, Kenya launched the Jua Kali Skill Voucher Program to catalyse adoption of skill training programmes among micro and small enterprises (MSEs) through demonstration effect.

• After experiencing more than double the average sales, the MSEs increased their permanent training resources and staff. However, it is important to note that a detailed impact study showed that the programme was a high cost one and could not sustain without external funding support.

• Any incentives, therefore, must be designed with the goal of sustainability, with firms eventually transitioning to skilling their workforce without needing external support.
Foster tailored models of skill provision:

• There is a significant need to create an enabling environment and dedicate resources to support testing of new models across the sector.

• The ‘micro-training’ provider model in Rwanda is a case in point. It is a hyper-local and flexible training model operated by small enterprises that engage in production and sale of goods and services and provide training as a parallel service.

• Introduction of this model resulted in an enrolment rate of twice as many trainees, compared to formal public training systems.

Recognise skills

• It required through traditional apprenticeships or other non-formal channels.

• Workers and entrepreneurs in the informal sector often get trained by observing or working under master crafts persons or owners of small businesses.

• Since they might not have any record of their training, developing mechanisms for formal recognition of an informal worker’s existing skills can benefit them tremendously.

• Some platform aggregators, such as UrbanClap, are already supporting formal recognition and upskilling efforts in India.

• The indicative of a rising trend. It helps formalise the service provider’s informally-acquired skill by providing a short-term up-skilling course and offering a certificate for the training.

Conclusion

• Efforts in the skilling ecosystem so far have mostly focussed on serving the existing demand effectively.

• If we want India to transition to a high-skills equilibrium, it will be crucial to exponentially increase the demand for skilling.

• A concerted focus on the small and informal sector, will be the first step to achieving this.

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Circle of life: on economic growth factoring ecosystem (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Environment
Prelims level: IPBES
Mains level: Environmental impact assessment

Context

• The overwhelming message from the global assessment report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is that human beings have so rapaciously exploited nature, and that species belonging to a quarter of all studied animal and plant groups on earth are gravely threatened.

• If the world continues to pursue the current model of economic growth without factoring in environmental costs, one million species could go extinct, many in a matter of decades.

• Catastrophic erosion of ecosystems is being driven by unsustainable use of land and water, direct harvesting of species, climate change, pollution and release of alien plants and animals in new habitats.

• While ecosystem losses have accelerated over the past five decades universally, there is particular worry over the devastation occurring in tropical areas, which are endowed with greater biodiversity than others; only a quarter of the land worldwide now retains its ecological and evolutionary integrity, largely spared of human impact.

Protecting environment

• Nature provides ecosystem services, but these are often not included in productivity estimates: they are vital for food production, for clean air and water, provision of fuel for millions, absorption of carbon in the atmosphere, and climate moderation.

• The result of such skewed policies, as the IPBES estimates, is that the global rate of species extinction is at least tens to hundreds of times higher today than the average rate over the past 10 million years, and it is accelerating alarmingly.

Points highlighted by the experts

• Ecological economists have for years pointed to the extreme harm that humanity as a whole is courting by modifying terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems to suit immediate needs, such as raising agricultural and food output and extracting materials that aid ever-increasing consumption.

• Expanding agriculture by cutting down forests has raised food volumes, and mining feeds many industries, but these have severely affected other functions such as water availability, pollination, maintenance of wild variants of domesticated plants and climate regulation.

• Losses from pollution are usually not factored into claims of economic progress made by countries, but as the IPBES assessment points out, marine plastic pollution has increased tenfold since 1980, affecting at least 267 species, including 86% of marine turtles, 44% of seabirds and 43% of marine mammals.

Way forward

• At the same time, about 9% of 6,190 domesticated breeds of mammals used for food and agriculture had gone extinct by 2016, and another 1,000 may disappear permanently.

• Viewed against a shrinking base of wild varieties of farmed plants and animals, all countries have cause for alarm.

• They are rapidly emptying their genetic resource kit.

• Reversing course is a dire necessity to stave off disaster.

• This can be done by incorporating biodiversity impacts into all economic activity, recognising that irreparably breaking the web of life will impoverish and endanger people everywhere.

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A travesty of justice (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Polity
Prelims level: CJI
Mains level: Judicial matters

Context

• On May 6, the “in-house” panel of the Supreme Court gave a clean sheet to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Ranjan Gogoi, after an allegation of sexual harassment was levelled against him by a former female staffer of the court.

• This is considered necessary in administrative law to ensure that the accused does not tamper with evidence or intimidate or influence witnesses.

• Usually, an independent inquiry will follow which will give both parties an opportunity to present evidence and arguments and to examine and cross-examine witnesses.

• If the allegations are found to be true and grave, the accused’s employment is terminated; if not, other forms of departmental penalties are imposed.
Series of flaws

• The first reaction was by the court’s Secretary General quickly discarding the complaint as one by “mischievous forces”. The second was unprecedented in the constitutional history of India.

• The CJI himself constituted an extraordinary hearing in the Supreme Court, along with two other judges, on a non-working day in a case titled “Matter of great public importance touching upon the independence of the judiciary”.

• The complainant, in her absence, was defamed and her motives questioned. The highest law officers of the country, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General, joined this judicial proceeding. Within no time, an allegation of sexual harassment turned into a matter of judicial independence.

• The another development was the constitution of an “in-house” panel comprising three judges of the Supreme Court.

• It did not seem to be of concern that to ensure independence of the inquiry and check for bias, members other than judges should have constituted the committee.

The ‘master of roster’

• The constitution of the “in-house” panel was not in compliance with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, a special legislation to curbharassment.

• Nor was not in accordance with any requirements under the existing framework of law.

• Thereafter, the complainant was forced to abstain from the panel, citing various reasons such as the refusal of the panel to allow the presence of her lawyer, refusal to record the proceedings or to inform her of the procedure followed and prohibition on conveying the details of the proceedings to anybody else, including her lawyer.

• The panel continued the proceedings in her absence and then met the CJI. Now, the panel has concluded that the allegations are without “substance”.

Opaque report

• The finding of the panel that the allegations are baseless is the final blow in a process that has violated all principles of fairness, due process and impartiality.

• The panel’s report is not available to the public on reasons of confidentiality.

• What grounds did the panel cover to reach its conclusion?

• What evidence did it examine and rely on?

• The public have been kept in the dark, having no access to and no knowledge of what transpired in the proceedings. This has happened at a time when the Right to Information Act, 2005 has revolutionised access to information by the public.

Conclusion

• The institution of the judiciary has a strong counter-majoritarian character. It is considered neutral free from self-interests.

• It is supposed to protect individual rights and adjudicate freely and fairly.

• But the current episode points to a larger problem in Indian democracy: the emergence of judicial oligarchy.

• An allegation against a sitting judge is inquired into by three other judges of the court, the accused is exonerated, the panel report is made available only to the CJI and the seniormost judge of the court, and this secrecy is justified by relying on a judgment of the Supreme Court itself.

• The judges must not reduce the institution to a private club where certain interests are privileged at the cost of judicial integrity.

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Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 09 May 2019

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding trans fat :

1) Trans fat, also called trans-unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, is a type of unsaturated fat that occurs in small amounts in nature, but became widely produced industrially from vegetable fats starting in the 1950s.
2) Although trans fats are edible, consuming trans fats has been shown to increase the risk of coronary artery disease in part by raising levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
3) WHO has partnered with international food and beverage alliance to eliminate industrially produced trans fat by 2023.

Which of the above statements are true ?

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all of the above

Q2. Which of the following are the sources of black carbon/soot in the atmosphere ?

1) Biomass burning
2) Diesel emissions
3) Volcanic eruptions
4) Mining
5) Agricultural waste heating

a) 1,2 & 3 only
b) 3,4 & 5 only
c) 1,2 & 5 only
d) all of the above

Q3. Which of the following statements with respect to conduct of election rules 1961 are true ?

1) if an elector after having recorded his/her vote alleges that the paper slip generated by the printer has shown the name or symbol of a candidate other than the one he/she voted for, the Presiding Officer shall obtain a written declaration from the elector on the veracity of the allegation, after warning him/her of the consequence of making a false statement.
2) If the voter’s allegation is true, the Presiding Officer would immediately report to the Returning Officer and stop further recording of votes in the defective machine.
3) As per another section 56D introduced in the rule, an election agent cannot request the Returning Officer to count the printed paper slips in the drop box of the printer (VVPAT) in a polling station.

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all of the above

Q4. With respect to recent estimates of fiscal deficit submitted by the RBI to the finance commission, which of the following statements are true ?

1) India’s balance of payment eased mainly on account of falling oil prices, while lower-than-expected tax collections and continuing government spending were responsible for the widening fiscal deficit.
2) Fiscal deficit of States is budgeted to be lower in 2019-20 BE (budgeted estimates), but RE (revised estimates) and actuals deviate significantly reflecting poor fiscal marksmanship.
3) The central bank noted that outstanding debt as percentage of GDP had been rising despite moderation in interest payment as percentage of revenue receipts.

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all of the above

Q5. The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations across the globe.
Which of the following places is the headquarters of the organisation?

a) London
b) Geneva
c) Brussels
d) Paris

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(GIST OF YOJANA) Growth and Development: Woven in  Threads of Northeast

[APRIL-2019]

Growth and Development: Woven in  Threads of Northeast

Introduction

•  The textile industry is one of the oldest in India and is intrinsically linked to a range of traditions and cultures that is a reflection of the diversity that prevails in our country.
•  The industry has a range of segments under its umbrella - hand-woven, an unorganized segment on one end, to capital-intensive on the other.
•  One of India’s biggest strengths lies in it being the largest producer of jute and cotton and the second largest producer of silk globally.
•  By value, the textile industry accounts for 7 per cent of India's industrial, 2 per cent of GDP and 15 per cent of the country's export earnings. India exported $ 39.2 billion worth of textiles in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

Some of the important pointers of Indian textile industry are as follows:

•  India covers 61 percent of the international textile market.
•  India is the largest producer of jute in the world India is known to be the third largest manufacturer of cotton across the globe.
•  India holds around 25 percent share in the cotton yam industry across the globe.
•  India contributes to around 12 percent of the world’s production of cotton yam and textiles.
•  India is the second largest producer of silk in the world, producing around 18 per cent of the world’s total silk.

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A common factor that binds all the stales:

•  Weaving - It is practiced alike by all tribal groups in Arunachal Pradesh. Nagaland. Manipur and in the valley of Assam. There are only a few exceptions, such as the Nokteys of Tirap in Arunachal Pradesh and the Khasis of Meghalaya who do not weave.
•  Silk - Northeast India has the potential to produce the country’s finest silk products, the same of which can be exported outside the country, elevating the economic standard and status of the Northeastern states besides putting Northeast onto the cultural map of the world. Assam is the 3rd largest producer of silk in the country and leading among the north-east states.
• On the other hand, Manipur produces almost 100 per cent of the country’s Oak tussar silk and is the highest producer of Mulberry silk among the North cast states. Whereas, Tripura focuses on production of only Mulberry silk with end to end solutions.
•  Carpets - You can find the most ancient form of carpet weaving in Sikkim. The traditional pattern of weaving is done by the ‘Bhutia community which requires a frame and an exclusive manner of weaving. You can see the hard work put in by the locals in the intricate designs of the carpet. Arunachal too is w ell known for carpets. Arunachal Pradesh is divided into 3 major groups depending on their culture and handicrafts; the Buddhist tribes consist of the Sherdukpens and Monpas and also to some extent the Khowa. The Aka and Mijis comprise another group, while the Membas. Khambas, Khamtis and Singphos comprise the last group.
•  Wooden and Metal Products - Known as a symbol of true art of India, Sikkim excels in wood carving. Sikkim brims with beautiful monasteries, heritage buildings and temples, the architecture of which is adorned with symbols and icons carved in wood.
•  Not only that, you can see the special wood carsing with papier-mache in the mask dances of Sikkim. Pemayangtse Monastery is a fine illustration of carved wooden sculptures and wood carvings.

Conclusion

•  The north-east region, by way of its location, enjoys key advantages as much as it throws up challenges for businesses.
•  The situation, however, has improved significantly in the last few years. There is increase in the share of industrial activity in all eight states in the region, with Meghalaya, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh recording the highest growth.
•  Most development indices also show a positive performance in the region when compared to other states in India. This is just the beginning of the growth story and one can see that the textile industry will be acting as a pivot of this growth.

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(The Gist of Kurukshetra) PROSPECTS OF RURAL TOURISM IN NORTH EAST

[APRIL-2019]

PROSPECTS OF RURAL TOURISM IN NORTH EAST

Introduction

•  Provides an opportunity to optimising the use of village level recourses/assets.
•  Provides a national/ International platform for rural art and handicraft made by rural folk food festival dress.
•  Rural Tourism can also promote cultural identity of tribal and other community.
•  It provides impetus to the rural economy and linked them to the economy of the world.

Conclusion

•  Rural Tourism is emerging as a primary tourism sector and has a great capacity to create large scale employment in rural areas. India lives in rural areas and without developing rural areas India cannot be a developed country.
•  The same is applicable for the North East Region of India. It is evident that the 'Paradise Unexplored' is highly rich in natural and cultural resources. These potentials of resources can be tapped through rural tourism in the interest of its inhabitants. Hence, promotion of rural tourism can play a major role in the creation of additional employment opportunities in rural areas and upliftment of living conditions and increase in income of rural inhabitants by promoting rural tourism/ multifaceted village life which has largely remained untapped. success. Some of the stakeholders who are part of this
   

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(The Gist of Kurukshetra) AGRI-TOURISM: POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES

[APRIL-2019]

AGRI-TOURISM: POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES

Introduction

• Tourism is one of the most important revenue generating sectors of any country. It not only generates employment opportunities but also alleviates poverty and is a catalyst for rural development.
• Rural tourism is a form of tourism that takes place in rural areas or settlements, providing employment and income to local population, and offering individualized holiday products to consumers. Agri-tourism is a form oftourism which involves agriculture based operation that brings visitors to the farms. Agri-tourism is where agriculture meets tourism and there are certain learning along with leisure and vacation. Agri- tourism is a leisure activity which also helps the person understand and appreciate the work done by the farmer.
  Agri-tourism is the latest concept in the Indian tourism industry. It gives the tourist an opportunity to experience the real, enchanting and authentic contact with the rural life, taste the local cuisine and get familiar with the various farming tasks during the visit. It provides a welcome escape from the daily hectic life in the peaceful rural environment. It gives the tourist a chance to relax and revitalize in pristine natural environment, surrounded by magnificent rural setting. The tourist gets the opportunity to see the real India and have the experience of the lifetime. Agri- tourism helps the child especially the urban child who normally lives in closed door school, watches television and mostly remains confined to the four walls of the home to understand and appreciate the traditional way of farming, milk production etc. Agriculture currently is under stress in terms of farmers' earnings and vagaries of nature. Through Agri-tourism the farmer benefits by increasing his earnings and this benefit could percolate to the village community The increased earnings is possible through the following methods:
•  Expanding his farm operations so as to create an interest in the tourist.
•  Using farm products in an innovative way. For instance, the farmer and / or the community can prepare fresh juice or snacks and sell them to the tourist. This strategy is seen in tourist places like in Mahabaleshwar where one of the leading juice manufacturers has created a see through glass" enclosure through which  the tourist is able to see how the various fruit juices are prepared. Outside this enclosure is another enclosed space where the organization sells fruit juices at a discounted price which is less than the price at which it is available in the urban areas. The Agri-tourism concept may possibly adopt a similar strategy.
•  Developing new consumer niches by selling farm products directly. At several places from Nashik to Mumbai on way one can see farmers selling their products on the street. Perhaps this idea could be extended to farmer's market at the village level.
•  Creating an improved farm living conditions, working areas and farm recruitment opportunities.
•  Allowing tourists to either plough the fields or harvest products for a price. This would however depend on the farming cycle. Many of the children and parents, especially the urban family groups, have lost touch with their roots. They have seen villages in the cinema halls or in television. This may be a new method to attract the tourist to villages and give them a firsthand experience of farm activities.
•  Generating additional revenue for local business and services from the tourist. The tourist would need several items which can be procured from the nearby towns and sold to them thus bringing in additional revenue to the local business.
•  Upgrading and revitalizing community facilities for the residents and the visitors.
•  Helping preserve local traditions, art forms and culture.
•  Helping in diversifying and strengthening the rural economy through job creation.
•  Empowering the women in the villages.
•  Interacting with the urban tourist could also help in reducing the impact of the social ills like superstitions etc.

Agri-tourism can take several forms. Some of the products that can be offered are:

•  Farmers' Market: Here the farm products can be purchased by the tourist at any time and in any quantity.
•  Pick your own products: here the tourist can be encouraged to enter the farms and pick up the products directly e.g. pick up apples, strawberries, cabbages, grapes, pumpkins etc.This is widely practiced in several developed countries and also in a small way in certain tourist centers in India. Of course the products that can be picked would depend on the season. The quantity picked is then purchased by the tourist.

Key highlights

•  Savour local flavor: typical village breakfast, lunch or dinner may be offered, for instance in Maharashtra "kandapoha” is offered for breakfast. Tourist may sit on the floor or on the 'charpoy' and have breakfast, lunch etc. This is something which many tourists enjoy. In South India, many tourists enjoy eating food on banana leaf especially in areas like Kerala, Tamil Nadu etc.
•  Participation: Tourist may be requested to try lighting the 'choolah' and cook simple food. Many of the urban children and parents have only seen a choolah in the movies or in the books. This gives them a different and varied experience which is memorable and unforgettable. Cooking demonstration classes may be arranged, especially the traditional cuisine. This ideally would be a big hit amongst the urban women. Tourists can be encouraged to do cow milking, sheep shearing. Cow milking is something which is difficult but also interesting.
•  Tourists can be encouraged to milk the cow and this can be purchased by the tourist at a price. Care however must be taken with regard to the safety angle.
•  Experience Rural life: A conducted tour around the village may give insight about the rural life. In Mumbai, for example one of the world's largest slums is located at a place called Dharavi. Foreign tourists like visiting Dharavi just to understand life in a slum. The tourist is also asked to enter the house of select slum dwellers and partake some food etc. A similar concept can be developed in the villages also. The tourist may be offered something innovative to observe and enjoy like some aspects of the culture, dress, nearby forts, temples, bird watching etc. They may be offered to stay in a typical mud hut etc. Typically in some countries in the middle east and in some cities in Rajasthan tourists are encouraged to stay in tents.

Challenges

Implementation of Agri-tourism is not without some challenges. Some of them are listed below:

•  Quality and complexity of services. Quality in service is the basic prerequisite for the survival of Agri-tourism. For this it is necessary to have a dedicated and motivated staff who are skilled in presentation of products in a professional way. Many urban tourists would love to enjoy the rustic flavor of rural life but with both private and public organizations in tandem. The farmer who is at the center of the Agri-tourism network of stakeholders is the key to success. Some of the stakeholders who are part of this

Agri-tourism network is given below:

•  Farmer: The farmer is at the center of this network.
•  Medical Facilities: Availability of medical facilities is extremely important,
•  Transportation Network: Availability of transportation network is another important aspect. This includes good road facility, availability of a good network of road, railway etc.
•  Safety Aspects: This is a critical prerequisite.
•  Media and Communication: Media plays a very important part in promoting Agri- tourism. Care must be taken in promoting and communicating proper messages which would make Agri-tourism a grand success.
•  Tourism organizations play the role of a catalyst in promoting Agri-tourism.
•  Government and Hospitality industry also play a critical role in promoting Agri- tourism.
•  In addition to the above there are several other stakeholders who are critical and important in the promotion of Agritourism.

Public Awareness:

•  Today there is a general awareness regarding the quality of food that eats. There is a growing fascination towards
•  Need for a strategy to create innovative products.
•  Rural Tourism is one of the prominent forms of tourism and evolving as a primary
•  Need for a well-defined strategy both at the form tourism sector. Now, it is being national as well as the state level. recognised as an important driver of rural economic growth and source of alternative Some such strategies in promoting Agri-tourism could be:
•  Government supported policy structure. large scale employment for both skilled and unskilled labour force including youths There is a need for the government to develop and implement policy measures in residing in rural areas. Hence, the promotion of rural tourism can this regard.
•  Education of the farmer and the farm play a major role in the creation of additional employment opportunities in owner for development of the rural areas.
   

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(GIST OF YOJANA) Perfecting Craftsmanship through Skilling

[APRIL-2019]

Perfecting Craftsmanship through Skilling

Introduction

•  The pride of India lies in the treasures of India’s crafts and textiles. Indian weaving traditions and handicrafts have existed since time immemorial and have been a representation of the many unique sub- cultures within the country. India is the world’s second-largest producer of textiles and garments and ranks in top three in export of handicrafts.
•  Abundant availability of raw materials such as cotton, wool, silk, and jute as well as a skilled workforce have made the country a leading sourcing hub for the global textile market. Preservation of Indian weavers and craftsmen is the need of the hour, because the world is taking notice of our immensely unique heritage, and the time is ripe for artisans and craftsmen to reap the rewards.

Key highlights

•  To spearhead and address the immediate need of the textile industry, successful efforts were made in developing 72 Qualification Packs (QPs) out of which 71 have been cleared by National Skill Qualification Committee (NSQC). These 71 QPs constitute the requirements of about 80 per cent of the workforce engaged in textile industries, majority the textile mill sector TSSC is now developing standards for other workforce in critical segments such as wool, silk, jute, technical textiles and quality control.
•  When it comes to handicrafts and handlooms there is hardly any part of India which is not known far its specially crafted and women items. This is a vast and versatile industry. Be it the silk from Assam or the cotton from Bengal, the Pashmina from Kashmir or the Kanjeevaram from South India, they all have their own story to tell and have their place in the market. No matter how much technology advances, the skill in the hands of people has its own charm. There is a lot of tradition that has been passed on through generations which is no less than the magic of skilled hands.
•  Indian textile industry has strengths across the entire value chain from natural to man- made fiber to apparel
•  to home furnishings. The sector contributes about 27 per cent of the country’s foreign earnings due to export, 2 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP), and 1 3 per cent to the nation’s export.
•  Simultaneously, handicraft exports from India increased by 1.65 per cent year-on- year between April-November, 2018 to US$ 2.42 billion. Thus, the modernization, growth and all-round development and skilling of these industries has a direct bearing on the improvement in Indian economy.
•  The elevating employment opportunities in the textile and handicraft sectors and its allied industries, will make these sectors more prosperous. Further, these sectors are an important source to express art and skill in crafts and promote our culture by making crafts and textile items available locally.
•  Apart from the United States and Europe, which account for about two-thirds of India’s textile exports, China, the UAE, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan, and Brazil are some of the major markets for these exports.

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Conclusion

•  With focused efforts the country is expected to lure significant global businesses to India.
• It is envisaged that the Indian market will continue its upward trajectory in the years to come leveraging its inherent strengths and macroeconomic drivers.

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(GIST OF YOJANA) Crossing the Seven Seas

[APRIL-2019]

Crossing the Seven Seas

•  India is a country of rich culture, history and traditions. It is one of the major producers and suppliers of handicraft products in the world for several decades.
•  During recent years, the importance of handicrafts has surged due to its cultural and economic value. The small scale industries including handicrafts play a major role in the development of the economy of both developed and the developing countries equally. Handicrafts can be defined as products which are produced either completely by hand or with the help of tools.
•  The handicrafts industry of India essentially mirrors the aspects of the age old civilization of India. No wonder the phrase ‘unity in diversity’ is so applicable to our country. Each state has its unique handicraft products which reflect the diverse nature of the Indian handicrafts industry.
•  The entire industry, being decentralized, is spread all over this huge subcontinent, concentrated both in the rural and urban areas.
•  The Indian handicrafts industry essentially falls under the cottage industry category. Despite this fact, it is a high employment intensive sector, employing over 6 million part time and full time artisans of the carpet manufacturing sector), including women and a large section from the weaker strata of the society.
•  Besides being an employment generator, the handicraft industry is economically viable, because of low capital investments while the potential for export of the various handicraft products is considerably high. Hence, it is an important foreign exchange earner for our country.

Indian Textile Industry

•  The Indian Textile industry is one of the largest in the world with a large raw material base and manufacturing strength across the value chain. India is the largest producer and the second largest exporter of cotton in the world.
•  India is also the leading consumer of cotton. Domestic textile and apparel industry contributes 2 per cent to India’s (IDP and accounts for 14 per cent of industrial production, 27 per cent of the country's foreign exchange inflows and 11 per cent of the country's export earnings.
•  The textiles and garments industry in India that employs 45 million people is second only to the agriculture sector in terms of employment. The textile sector in India is dominated by women workers, with 70 per cent of the workforce being women. In (lie Indian textile and apparel sector, the sub sectors of weaving, processing and garmenting are fragmented and lack the requisite scale for success in global markets.
•  Most of the manufacturing units have small capacities and low manufacturing efficiencies which make it difficult for them to compete in global markets.

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Conclusion and Way Forward

•  India enjoys a unique advantage of having abundant raw materials and presence of manufacturing in all segments of the textile value chain. The time has come for the industry to discard outdated technology and modernize its machinery to be globally competitive.
•  The industry needs to focus on innovation and value addition for improving global competitiveness of Indian textiles and apparels Innovation such as promoting  waterless dyeing by adopting new technology is also needed We have to come up with innovative and exclusive products it we have to expand our footprint in the global arena The continued growth and global competitiveness of the textile' industry can drive the economy to new heights.

Way forward

•  However, the sector also need' to improve supply chains and internal systems, focus on research and development, cost optimization (saving cost by vertical integration, etc.) and scaling-up to achieve greater
•  competitiveness and command a higher share in the production and export of top items traded in global markets.
•  The industry has to rise to the occasion and ensure that the share of India’s exports increases by diversification in products and explore newer markets.
•  Quality has to be the mainstay for India to sustain exports in the global market especially when we are facing stiff competition from countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam.
•  With rising income levels and steady growth of the retail industry, the textiles sector is expected to experience a high growth trajectory in future due to strong domestic consumption as well as increasing demand in global markets.

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(The Gist of Kurukshetra) INCREASING INTEREST IN RURAL TOURISM

[APRIL-2019]

INCREASING INTEREST IN RURAL TOURISM

Introduction

•  India with all its geographical and cultural diversity has always been an attraction for tourists. The mighty Himalayas, vast deserts, lushgreen forests and beautiful beaches intertwined with ancient temples and the majestic forts of Rajasthan make India truly an 'Incredible' destination.
•  However, India has much more to offer than just being the 'land of tigers and temples'. Spread across its lakhs of villages lie untold venues in all their myriad colours and hues. If explored and developed as rural tourism sites, these venues could be instrumental in bringing out the much needed turnaround of rural communities and at the same time providing a visitor wholesale tourism experience. Rural tourism holds immense promise for India.
•  When developed to its fullest potential, it could provide jobs to many young men and women who otherwise are increasingly migrating to cities. Rural tourism can revive many of the arts and crafts traditionally being practiced in the rural communities but dying a slow death.
•  Socially, it can open rural mindset to new thoughts and ideas from the outside world. On the other hand, for the urban citizen, a few days spent amidst traditional rural lifestyle may prove to be a great stress reliever.

Major Types of Rural Tourism in India :

•  Agricultural Tourism: To explore more about the agricultural industry and how farmers work with crops.
•  Cultural Tourism: To allow tourists to be immersed in local culture related activities, like rituals and festivals.
•  Nature Tourism: Responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people.
•  Adventure Tourism: Any constructive activity which tests the endurance of both a person and his equipment to its extreme limit is termed as Adventure Tourism.
•  Food Routes: Where wanderlust meets thevariety that persists in our cuisine. This tourism is all about food and knowing more about diverse staples of different places.
•  Community Eco-tourism: Where tourism is for a purpose. It is a rather responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improves the well-being of local people.
•  Ethno-tourism: To expand the horizon to view different cultures. It is essentially to know more about various ethnic and cultural lifestyles and beliefs.

Increasing Interest in Rural Tourism:

•  Rural tourism helps to garner knowledge on agriculture, farming, local governance etc.
•  Rural tourism helps to remove myths about rural lifestyle that may exist in urban minds, like villages are unhygienic, rural life is unsafe, etc.
•  Rural tourism will help a person to explore the vast diversity that breathe in the interiors of India.

Some Popular Rural Tourism Destinations :

•  Kutch Adventures India: Community Tourism in Kutch; Forays into Rann of Kutch of Gujarat to visit artisans' villages as well as the salt desert.
•  Itmennan Lodges Punjabiyat : Farming in Rural Punjab; Gives the tourist a taste of various farming activities.
•  Ecosphere Spirit: High altitude rural tourism; Visits to Buddhist monasteries, yak safaris, treks to villages, village homestays, and cultural performances are some of the possible activities.
•  Lachen, Sikkim: It is located at 8500 feet against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks, glaciers and rock cliffs, amidst mixed conifer and Rhododendron forests. Made accessible to tourists only a few years back, it retains an unspoilt freshness.
•  Ballabhpur Danga, West Bengal: Ballavpur Danga, 3 KM from Shantiniketan, is a Santhal Adivasi tribal community in the pastoral beauty of rural Bengal. The Sonajhuri forest lies to the east and the Ballavpur Avayaranya forest area and bird sanctuary is to its south. Santhali art, craft and culture is closely knit into the community's life.
•  Sunderbans Village Life: The UNESCO World Heritage Site with the largest mangrove vegetation in the world is a great attraction for tourists.
•  Majuli in Assam: The largest river island on the Brahmaputra river in Assam is a popular tourist destination.
•  Pochampally, Telangana: Tourists can have a look weaving of the famous slik sarees known by the same name.

There are more to the list, which still remain unexplored by the tourists.

Rural Tourism and Rural Women :

•  Tourism is one of the most important activities in the world, employing large number of women in industrialized and developing countries.
•  Rural Tourism presents both opportunities and challenges for women, which makes the gender equality perspective highly relevant.
•  Work in the rural tourism sectors of destination areas is concentrated particularly in retailing accommodation & catering, selling entertainment & transportation provisions.
•  Rural Tourism can create long term employment and provides skilled/ unskilled training and career development opportunities for women.
•  Rural Tourism will boost women's empowerment and provides young/ agriculturist livelihood diversification.
•  Rural Tourism has the potential of establishing medium and small enterprises started by women entrepreneurs.
•  Rural tourism will promote local production, education, art and architecture, community self esteem and pride, heritage and nature conservation.
•  Rural Tourism will create new infrastructure superstructure, helps to maintain local services and facilities and improves quality of life for women.
•  Development of Rural Tourism is the passport of poverty alleviation and can double the women farmer's income without creating negative , new professional profiles in the form of local tour guides escorts, Manager of Accommodation, Transportation, Shopping Centers, Travel Circuits, Production House, Food Joints, Souvenir Shops and Services. Women can be hired  for such impacts on environment and ecology.

Way forward

•  Rural Tourism has the potential of developing services.
•  Rural Tourism creates jobs for women, but domestic objections, religious beliefs, already established cultural beliefs regarding gender roles, ability to travel longer distances for work and child rearing make them less accessible to women. Because of this, women supplement income by side jobs (e.g. baking, cleaning) to sustain household livelihood. Rural tourism has the potential to be a vehicle for the empowerment of women in India.
•  It provides better opportunities for women's participation in the work force, women's entrepreneurship & women's leadership than other sectors of the economy. Women in rural  tourism are still underpaid, underutilized, under educated and under represented, but tourism offers pathways to success, if properly developed.
•  Due to its size, its rapid growth and its extremely diverse and dynamic nature, the tourism industry has an enormous flexibility. This can enable the industry to develop key initiatives for the advancement of women.

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(GIST OF YOJANA) Contributing to Economic Growth

[APRIL-2019]

Contributing to Economic Growth

Introduction

•  Tirupatibyand (Odisha) but over one Andhra Raghurajpurthing1100arebringskilometers
•  Textiles and handicrafts have been a key source of employment. As per the latest separated Pradesh them closer and that is available Annual Survey of Industries data, their association with project of linking number of persons employed in the ‘Textiles with the Tourism.’ These are the organised Textile and Wearing Apparel first two centres chosen for a project aiming to give textiles and handicrafts a Sector is around 26,48,238 in 2015-16 and 26,94,280 in 2016-17. Further, the new dimension.
•  Tirupati does not need an introduction but Raghurajpur does. This craft village is located near the temple city of Puri in Odisha and famous for its pattachitra, palm leaf art, traditional stone carving and idol making with papier-mache. It has kept its age-old craft traditions alive. It is connected through Bhubaneswar Puri national highway.
•  It is home to just 140 families, and perhaps India’s only village where every household is involved in producing handicrafts. It has a crafts library, an interpretation centre, an amphitheatre and guest houses. The village is hosting not just Indians but foreigners too and earning more. Tourism has given a new identity to this village and the best part is that nearby villages have also benefitted from this identity.

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Key highlights

•  This initiative has helped, even in a limited way, the traditional sector to get a face lift. Also, it is helping this sector to contribute more to the economic growth. No doubt, the textile sector has been one of the oldest industries in India currently estimated at around USS 1 50 billion and expected to reach USS 250 billion soon. It contributed seven per cent of the industry output (m value terms). 15 per cent in export earnings and over two per cent in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of India in 2017-1 K. Overall textile exports during flscal year 2017-18 stood at US $39.2 billion. handloom sector provides direct and indirect employment to 43 lakh weavers and allied workers. There are 68.86 lakh handicraft artisans. The handloom and handicrafts sector together provide about 111 lakh employment both in the organized and unorganized sector.

Handicrafts Sector

•  It is mainly an un-organised and diversified sector with estimated 70 lakh artisans practicing 32 broad crafts categories throughout the country. To organize and standardize the Indian handicrafts, approximately 22.85 lakhs artisans have been trained under ‘Pahchan’ initiatives. Moreover 35 crafts have been identified as endangered crafts and 92 crafts have been registered under Geographical Indication Act.
•  For standardization of carpets, carpet rating scheme has been formulated, but handicraft items are mainly hand made. The beauty of handicrafts lies in the artistic hands of the artisans and each handicraft product is different from the other even if it is made by the same artisan using the same raw material. In an effort to establish authenticity of handmade products there is a scheme of handicraft mark.
•  There is a direct marketing portal for handicrafts artisans to provide direct market access facility to genuine handicrafts artisans including tribal artisans working in the far-flung areas. Any handicraft artisan registered under ‘Pachchan’ can utilize this portal for marketing their products. Till date 302 number of artisans have been registered in the portal.

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(GIST OF YOJANA) Various Crafts in India

[APRIL-2019]

Various Crafts in India

ZARI

•  Zari is an even thread traditionally made offine gold or silver used in traditional Indian, Pakistani and Persian garments and curtains, etc. Four types of zari are produced in India, namely, real zari, semi real zari, imitation zari and plastic zari.
•  Real zari is made of silver and electroplated with gold, whereas semi real zari has a composition of copper coated with silver and gold electroplating. Surat is the home of zari industry in India. Other clusters producing zari are Bareilly, Varanasi, Agra, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Vadodara, Lathur, Jaipur, Barmer, etc.

Leather Footwear and other Leather Articles

•  The leather industry, including leather footwear, is one ofthe oldest traditional industries in India. The major production centres in India arc Chennai and Ranipet in Tamil Nadu, Mumbai in Maharashtra, Agra, Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Jalandhar in Punjab, Delhi, Kamal and Faridabad in Haryana, Kolkata in West Bengal, Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Calicut in Kerala.
•  India is also known worldwide for its leather products. Leather products, such as jackets, lampshades, pouches, bags, belts, wallets, and stuffed toys are exported from India in large quantity. Leather bags and wallets account for major portion of total exports.

Carpet

•  Carpet industry is one of the oldest industries in India, and is primarily an export oriented industry. Various kinds of carpets include hand-knotted woolen carpets, tufted woolen carpets, handmade woolen durries, and pure silk carpets. Major centers of carpet production are Bhadohi, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Agra, Jaipur, Bikaner, Kashmir, and Panipat, Gwalior, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Elluru in Andhra Pradesh.

Rugs and Durries

•  India is one the leading producers of rugs in the world. Various kinds of rugs produced in India are namda (felted rugs), gabba (embroidered rugs), wooden pile rugs, cotton rugs, etc.
•  Rug production is concentrated in Agra, Bhadoi, Mirzapur in UP,Jaipur in Rajasthan, Panipat in Haryana, and Kashmir in Jammu and Kashmir. Regions known for durrie making are Panipat, Bhavani in Tamil Nadu, Navalgund in Karnataka, Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, and Jaisalmer and Banner in Rajasthan.

Handloom

•  India is a major handloom producer in the world, accounting for 85 per cent of the total production globally.
•  Handloom contributes 14.6 per cent to the total cloth production in the country (excluding wool, silk and yam). There are 470 handloom clusters, of which 230 clusters have more than 1,000 weaving looms.
•  Out of these 230 clusters. 41 clusters have over 25,000 weaving looms. Major clusters in India are Bahraich, Bhuj, Karimnagar, Patan, Varanasi. Nawan, Shaher, Boudh, etc. Handloom industry is the second largest employment generator in India, next only to agriculture.

Textile Hand Embroidery

•  In textile hand embroidery, embellishment is made on fabric with threads and sometimes with other materials.
•  There are many popular embroidery clusters such as chikankari and zardozi of Lucknow, katha of Bengal pulkari of Punjab. kutchi embroidery of Gujarat and kashidakari of Kashmir. Zardozi has been traditionally prevalent in Lucknow and the six surrounding districts ofBarabanki, Unnao, Sitapur, Rae Bareli, Hardoi and Amethi.

Textile Hand Printing

•  Hand printed textiles is a craft in which cloth is dyed with hand or printed using shapes. Various types of hand printing practiced in India are block printing, batik, kalamkari (hand printing by pen) and bandhani (tie and die).
•  Some of the important centers of this craft are in Hyderabad, Machalipattnam, Varanasi, Farrukabad, Bagh, Behrongarh, Indore, Mandsar, Burhanpur, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Kutch, Bagru, Chittroli, Sanganer, Jaipur and Jodhpur.

Cane and Bamboo

•  Cane is largely used for furniture making, whereas bamboo is used for making jewellery and decorative utility items like lamp-stand, umbrella handles, partitions, screens, flower pots, baskets, walking sticks, tool handles, fishing rods, tent poles, ladders, toys, fans, cups, mugs, mats etc.
•  Assam (Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Guwahati, etc.) and Tripura (Agartala, Nelaghar, etc.) are recognized as prominent places for cane and bamboo products both nationally as well as internationally. Assam is home to about 50 species ofbamboo. Other major cane and bamboo handicraft centers are Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh in North Eastern region, West Bengal, Kerala, and Odisha.

Filigree and Silverware

•  Filigree is an extremely ancient technique dating back to 4000 years ago. Filigree work is performed on silver and involves significant precision and technicality. Two major clusters of silver filigree in India are Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh and Cuttack in Odisha.
•  The practice in Karimnagar is about two centuries old. However, it is also practiced in Warangal in Andhra Pradesh. Key raw materials used are silver wire, tracing sheet, copper, charcoal, dilute sulphuric acid.

Metal Ware

•  The metal crafts of India display intricate craftsmanship and fine art in shaping gold, silver, brass, copper into exquisite designed images, idols, jewellery, and utility items. Different categories of handicrafts that come under metal ware are brass metal ware of Moradabad, metal bidri work and bell metal in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and so on.
•  India is the largest brassware producer in the world. Major clusters of brassware are Moradabad, Murshidabad, Madurai, Salem, Cuttack and Haryana.
•  Bidriware is a metal handicraft that originatedinBidar, Karnataka. The term
  ‘Bidriware’ originates from the township of Bidar, which is still the main centre ofthe unique metal ware. It is a form of encrusted metal ware, where one metal is inlaid on to another.
•  Bidri products include a diverse range ofobjects including hukka bases, bowls, boxes, candle stands, trays, jewellery and buttons. Ittravelled from Iran to Ajmer in Rajasthan in the 13th century AD, and from there to Bijapur and flourished during the reign of the Deccan Sultanate.Itis alsopracticed in Aurangabad district in the state of Maharashtra and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. The basic metal used for Bidri is the alloy of zinc and copper.

Jewellery

•  Jewellery making is considered as the most distinctive and highly artistic craft in India. India has well-established capabilities forhand-made jewellery, both in traditional and modem designs. Major centers ofhandmade jewellery are Delhi Moradabad, Sambhal, Jaipur, Kohima (Tribal), Nellore, Mysore, Nalgonda Nizamabad, etc. Nearly 500,000 goldsmiths and 6,000 diamond processors are estimated to be present in India.

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Terracotta

•  Terracotta is similar to pottery, in which crafts persons use local clay available in river beds t ms such as lamps, candle stands, figures of deities and animals, etc.

Folk Painting

•  Indian folk paintings are pictorial expressions of village painters which are marked by the subjects chosen from epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Indian Puranas as well as daily events. There are several vibrant folk painting types in India in different stages.
•  The Gond tribe ofMadhya Pradesh is engaged in floor and wall painting. Warli is vivid expression of daily and social events of Warli tribe in Maharashtra. Rajasthan is famous for Phad painting done on cloth.
•  Other types of paintings arc Pilhora painting in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, Madhubani painting of Bihar, Chitrakar painting of West Bengal, Patachitras in Odisha, and Kalamkar Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh.

Coir Twisting

•  Coir is a natural, eco-friendly, water proof and exceptionally tensile fibre extracted from the nuts of coconut palms.
•  It is found in abundance and is used for manufacturing a wide range of eco-friendly toys, mats, brushes, mattresses, wall hangings, key rings, pen stands and other home decoratives.
•  This craft is primarily produced in Odisha (Sakhigopal, Puri, Pipli, Bhubaneswar, Batamangala and Kendrapara). It is also produced in Kerala (Emakulam).

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(The Gist of Kurukshetra) Socio Cultural Impacts of Rural Tourism

[APRIL-2019]

Socio Cultural Impacts of Rural Tourism

Introduction

•  Tourism as an activity undertaken by individuals provides diversification from routine functions of one’s day to day life. Today tourism is recognised as one of the largest industries of the world.
•  It contributes to employment generation, enhances income and enables fair distribution of wealth from an economic perspective. Simultaneously it provides a ground for cultural exchange, enhances tolerance and mutual respect amongst different cultures and promotes international friendship. It is also one of the surest and economical means of gaining exchange income.

Introducing Rural Tourism

Rural tourism can be defined as the country experience encompasses which a wide range of attractions and activities that take place in agricultural or non-urban areas. The essential characteristics of this form of tourism include wide-open spaces, low levels of tourism development, and opportunities for visitors to directly experience agricultural and/or natural environments. Rural tourism can be defined according to its relationship with its environment Prerequisites of rural tourism that lend a unique experience to tourists are that the destination should be:

•  Located in a rural area
•  Functionally rural. It should revolve on small settlements, open space and in contact with nature and the natural world, traditional societies their heritage and traditional practices.
•  Traditional in character, growing organically and connected with local families. It will often be very largely controlled locally and developed for the long term good of the area.

Positive Impact in Building Rural Societies

•  Rural tourism, though just a minority tourism market, is making a valuable contribution to rural economies. Its contribution can be expressed not only in financial terms, but also in terms of jobs, contributions towards funding conservation and encouragement to the adoption of new working practices.
•  In terms of the social fabric of the rural community, definitely an additional source of income that comes from tourism contributes positively to this community. The rural society through tourism can overcome their complete dependence on agriculture for revenue.
•  Tourism can also build a sense of pride amongst the rural community in their heritage and traditions. The rural community is also exposed to the urban world directly and interactions between the two can lead to encouraging mutual respect.
•  One of the major positive impacts on the rural society is the resurgence of cultural, traditional and historical traditions. This caters to a conducive environment for conservation and sustainable management of local and indigenous culture, arts and crafts.
•  The presence of tourists who are in awe and praise local talent and art can make the rural society realize the importance of their culture and thus tourism can play an important role in conserving and developing art. Due to this awareness amongst the local rural population, tourism has the strength to stimulate pride in local heritage.

Cultural commodification

•  Cultural commodification results in the transformation of value-from sacred to profane and from real to the unauthentic.
•  Cole summarises that tourism collects various cultural components and then sometimes adds something artificial to make it eye catching.
•  This is then packaged and sold to tourists. Tourism can turn local cultures into sellable items or commodities.
•  Religious rituals, traditions and festivals are reduced to commodities that conform to tourist expectations. This results in what is now termed as reconstructed ethnicity.
•  The actual and sacred significance of a ritual or tradition loses meaning even to those who had been following them religiously. This endangers the social customs of the community.

Standardization

•  Landscape, accommodation, food and drinks must meet the requirements of the tourists in spite of the fact that tourists actually move to exotic rural destinations for experiencing change.
•  The tourists most often look for familial features at such destinations. Standardization of cultural tourist areas means bringing recognizable features such as food, hotels, and movies to exotic destinations to make the tourist feel more comfortable in their surroundings. Standardization also means taking a culture and changing it to appeal to the tourists.
•  Standardization means offering a common product on a national, regional or worldwide basis". According to Clow Standardization means presenting a unified theme across nations and cultures". This can severely damage the appeal of the rural area in the long run.
•  At the same time, it also further damages the local produce as the host community is forced to adapt to the tastes of the tourists.

Cultural Erosion

•  Tourists on their visits to rural destinations seek to purchase the local arts, crafts and cultural manifestations as a souvenir. The local craftsmen then respond to these demands but keeping up with the tastes and requirements of the tourists make changes in design of their products to bring them more in line with the demands.
•  This leads to cultural erosion and eventually the original version of the artefact becomes just a museum piece. This once again severely damages the rural structure as authenticity is lost due to modern demands and interventions.

Cultural Clashes

•  As the local rural population feels threatened by the constant flow of tourists due to the changing patterns of their world, anti-tourist attitudes may begin to manifest amongst the rural population.
•  As a result of different cultural background, values, lifestyles, languages and levels of prosperity cultural clashes may occur eventually destroying the tourist- host bond.
•  Apart from this, job level frictions may occur. This happens mainly as stakeholders are usually the beneficiaries of tourism economically as compared to the local community. This may further antagonize the local population towards tourists.

Ethical Issues

•  Other negative social influences of tourism of rural societies can be felt in rise in prices of basic commodities which are hiked due to the tourists but impacts the local community. Crime rates may typically increase with growth of tourism activities in the rural area affecting the local population.
•  Another concern due to growing tourism in rural areas is the employment of children as they work for low pay. The ill of child labour is another issue that needs to be addressed by the tourism industry. Rural areas may also experience a surge in flesh trade as these bring easy money.

Conclusion

•  Since the positive and negative outcomes of tourism depend on human factors, including the attitude and behaviour of tourists and hosts during the interactions, so tourists, tourism and hosts are jointly responsible not solely.
•  Strengthening local cultural value is a vital point. In Indonesia, local people agreed to stage dance and music, but disagreed to stage rituals because they didn't want to commodify their core value.
•  The success of rural tourism lies in creating a balance between the positive and negative impacts of tourism and maintaining a healthy rural environment.
•  Rural tourism has an immense possibility for exotic destination seekers and has been recognized as a key business opportunity by the stake holders mainly due to the growing demand for domestic weekend holidays.
•  It is therefore paramount that the third party involved that is the rural community should be an equal beneficiary through tourism with minimal, damages to its socio-cultural structure.
   

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(The Gist of Kurukshetra) RURAL TOURISM- SHOWCASING INDIA’S RURAL HERITAGE

[APRIL-2019]

RURAL TOURISM- SHOWCASING INDIA’S RURAL HERITAGE

Introduction

•  The tourism industry the world over is going through a great shift in ideas and beliefs. Today, fuelled by a massive increase in purchasing power and development of faster and cheaper modes of travel, more and more people are travelling across the world. The purpose of travels now tends to be more of leisure and increasingly so for getting to know new things and experiencing cultures, cuisine, traditions, etc. This kind of travel is y called 'experiential travel'.
•  Today, the discerning traveler is prepared to go greater distances and to previously unknown places to get the unique experience and to also cater to her own special interest. The tourist is also looking at being a responsible traveler, about giving back to the community and interacting with the host community so that they have a visible stake in the whole development of the region. India's tourism attractions, as we know, are large and varied.
•  Our culture, which is both syncretic and dates back to ancient times, is our most visible attraction. The great monuments ranging from that symbol of eternal love, Taj Mahal to the great temples of South India, the majestic forts of Rajasthan as well as the wide and varied landscape of snowcapped mountains, golden beaches, rich forests and verdant deserts all make India an 'Incredible' destination.
•  India also has many products to offer to the tourists who travel keeping a special interest in mind be it Medical and Wellness Tourism, be it Golf courses and be it Adventure Sports, India has it all. India is well known for its unique cultural heritage, in which lies its competitive strength. India clearly recognizes the inherent relationship between tourism and its cultural assets.
•  India has a vast array of arts and craft spread through the length and breadth of the state.
•  The conservation, preservation and integrated development of the areas around these art and crafts not only provides an additional opportunity for growth and expansion of rural and heritage tourism in India but also enhances the experience of the tourist - domestic and foreign visiting such sites.

Tangible heritage

•  While tangible heritage has been in the mainstream of tourism development in India, the intangible or living tourism has tremendous scope for increasing India's tourism offering not only to the world, but also to its own citizens.
•  The intangible heritage includes folklore, cuisine, customary practices, etc.
•  Almost all districts of India are endowed with these intangible heritages which can be identified and developed for providing new cultural experiences to tourists opportunity for growth and expansion of rural and heritage tourism in India but also enhances the experience of the tourist - domestic and foreign visiting such sites.
•  While tangible heritage has been in the mainstream of tourism development in India, the intangible or living tourism has tremendous scope for increasing India's tourism offering not only to the world, but also to its own citizens.
•  The intangible heritage includes folklore, cuisine, customary practices, etc. Almost all districts of India are endowed with these intangible heritages which can be identified and developed for providing new cultural experiences to tourists.

The National Tourism Policy

•  The National Tourism Policy of India recognizes that special thrust should be imparted to rural tourism and tourism in small settlements, where sizeable assets of our cultural and natural wealth exist.
•  Rural tourism is defined as, 'any form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations, thereby benefiting the local community economically and socially as well as enabling interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching tourism experience'.
•  This concept of Rural Tourism is definitely useful and holds significance for a country like India, where almost 69 per cent of the population resides in about 7 million villages.
•  The concept has now been taken forward by many states as well. Kerala has been at the forefront of developing the Rural Tourism model and evolving it under the greater ambit of

Responsible Tourism.

•  The award winning Kerala Responsible Tourism projects in Kumarakom, Wyanad and other locations combine a unique model of involving the local community and getting the visitor experience the village life with the local stakeholders as the story tellers.
•  This instills a great pride in the villagers who would otherwise have abandoned their traditional way of life for the city.

Flowed example

•  Another success story is in Sikkim which has empowered many village communities to develop tourism experiences including homestays thus spreading the tourism product evenly and away from the traditional destinations.
•  This also helps in increasing the carrying capacity of the tourism product. Sikkim is also leveraging its rural tourism product with its distinction of being India's first organic state.
•  Such a development model has the communities' involvement at the grass roots level and everyone gets a equal stake in the whole process.
•  Following the success of such public sector initiatives, there have been some notable initiatives
  coming up from the private sector. The projects in Rajasthan including in Samode and Mandawa have come up on a public-private model.
•  A noteworthy mention is of the Govardhan Eco-Village in Maharashtra which won the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation.
•  The institution has developed the village into a community that has a symbiotic relationship with the visitors and has increased both community participation as well as helped in raising income levels and education in this once backward area.

Scope of rural tourism

•  There is, therefore, immense scope for development of the concept of Rural tourism and Village Life Experiences across the country. However, some challenges still remain. Chief amongst the challenges are that of marketing.
•  The communities by their very nature have very little avenues for marketing of the products both nationally and internationally. Therefore, with the lack of sufficient marketing infrastructure, those projects which are not very well linked with the traditional tourism circuits have not been able to do well.
•  The Rural Tourism Kerala Mission is an example of a successful marketing effort by the State Government of Kerala. More such efforts are required both at the international level and at the domestic levels.
•  Awareness is being created about the various products and destinations including Rural Tourism amongst the trade and consumers by participating in exhibitions and by organizing road shows etc. as part of ongoing promotional activities.

Conclusion

•  India's rich cultural, historical, religious and natural heritage provides a huge potential for development of tourism and job creation in the country and it would be fit to quote Mahatma Gandhi again, "India perishes if her villages perish".
•  Therefore, it is imperative on our part to nurture the villages and preserve that simple way of life for future generations. Rural Tourism therefore, goes a long way in keeping that tradition alive.

Study Material for UPSC General Studies Pre Cum Mains

(GIST OF YOJANA) Magic of Gifted Hands: Empowering Handicraft Artisans

[APRIL-2019]

Magic of Gifted Hands: Empowering Handicraft Artisans

Introduction

•  The origin of Indian handicrafts goes back to the early man living in caves and giving creative expression to his/her emotions through various carvings made on rocks. It travelled through the ages through various forms of skill, techniques, art forms preserved in various folk traditions and aesthetic expressions.
•  The artisans of India have always been recognized for their craftsmanship, sense of design and color. The excavations of Mohenja daro and Harappa show that even during the second millennium before Christ the excellence of Indian artisans was established and was recognized world over.
•  The cottage industry provided not only employment to the rural artisans but also played an important role in building a parallel rural economy.
•  Even now the small scale and cottage sector helps to solve social and economic problems of the artisans, by providing employment which also includes a large number of women and people belonging to weaker sections of the society.

Defining Handicraft

•  Handicraft is rightly described as craft of the people and in India it is not just an industry as the word is commonly understood but is the aesthetic expression of the artisans which not only fulfills the daily needs of the people but also satisfies their aesthetic desire.
•  The definition of handicrafts as per Honorable Supreme Court in Louis Shoppe judgment decided on 12.03.1995 says “it must be predominantly made by hand. It does not matter if some machinery is also used in the process.
•  It must be graced with visual appeal in the matter of ornamentation or inlay work or similar work lending it an element of artistic improvement. Such orientation must be of a substantial nature and not a mere pretence”.

Significance

•  The handicrafts sector plays a significant and important role in the country’s economy. It provides employment to a vast segment of crafts persons in rural and semi urban areas and generates substantial foreign exchange for the country, while preserving its cultural heritage.
•  Handicrafts have great potential, as they hold the key for sustaining not only the existing set of millions of artisans spread over the length and handicraft artisans in the country, which includes 20 lakh artisans related to the carpet sector, practicing more than 500 types of crafts such as Metal Engraving, breadth of the country, but also for the increasingly large number of new entrants in the crafts activity.
•  There are approximately 70 lakh Zari Zardosi, Teracotta, Stone Carving, Phulkari, Wood Inlay, Chikankari, Cane and Bamboo, Wooden Toys, Blue Pottery and Kutch Embroidery.
•  Out of these, 35 crafts have been recognized as “Endangered Crafts” such as Assamese Jewellery, Rogan Painting, Sanjhi Crafts, Ganjeefa Cards and Chamba Rumal and 92 crafts have been registered under “Geographical Indication Act” like Ganjifa cards of Mysore, Kashmir Paper Machie, Madhubani paintings, Kathputlis of Rajasthan, Odisha pattachitra, Varanasi Glass beads and Warli painting of Maharashtra. 56 per cent of the artisans are female.

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Benefits

•  The handicraft artisans are mostly working in an un-organized set up which makes them prone to exploitation by middlemen.
•  The handicraft sector has challenges of working capital, poor exposure to new technologies, absence of full market intelligence and institutional framework. Series of efforts have been taken to redress these problems and the sector is now witnessing good growth in terms of product development, domestic sales and exports during the 12th Plan.
•  Market Linkages are provided through various domestic and international marketing events organized throughout the year in various parts of the country. Domestic marketing platform is provided by organizing Gandhi Shilp Bazaar, Crafts Bazaar, etc and organizing handicraft exhibitions in prominent shopping malls of the country. International Marketing platform is being provided to awardee artisans through participation in international marketing events.

India’s scenario

•  India is one of the important suppliers of handicrafts to the world market. In the changing world scenario, craft products exported to various countries form a part of lifestyle products in the international market.
•  The impact is due to the changing consumer taste and trends for the 7 million craft persons who are the backbone of the Indian handicraft industry possessing inherent skills, technique and traditional craftsmanship quite sufficient for the primary platform.
•  However, in the changing world market, these crafts persons need an institutional support at their places of work i.e. craft pockets for value addition and for the edge with of her competitors like China, Korea, Thailand etc.
•  There is a high demand for Indian utilitarian and traditional crafts in the domestic and international markets.

Conclusion

•  Access to economic independence through the handicraft sector can address the livelihood issues and would lead to income generation in rural areas.
•  Also, skill upgradation and development in handicraft sector is an excellent approach for development of artisans, poverty reduction and providing income generation which would also help in achievement of sustainable development goals.
•  The other competitors like China, Korea, Thailand etc. There is a high demand for Indian utilitarian and traditional crafts in the domestic and international.

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