Gist of The Hindu: JUNE 2020

Gist of The Hindu: JUNE 2020

Manipur black rice, Gorakhpur terracotta gets GI tag

  • Chak-Hao, which is a black rice variety of Manipur, and Gorakhpur terracotta have bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. 
  • The application for Chak-Hao was filed by the Consortium of Producers of Chak-Hao (Black Rice), Manipur and was facilitated by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Manipur and the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC).
  • Chak-Hao, a scented glutinous rice which has been in cultivation in Manipur over centuries, is characterised by its special aroma. It is normally eaten during community feasts and is served as Chak-Haokheer.
  • Chak-Hao has also been used by traditional medical practitioners as part of traditional medicine. According to the GI application filed, this rice takes the longest cooking time of 40-45 minutes due to the presence of a fibrous bran layer and higher crude fibre content. 
  • At present, the traditional system of Chak-Hao cultivation is practised in some pockets of Manipur. Direct sowing of pre-soaked seeds and also transplantation of rice seedlings raised in nurseries in puddled fields are widely practised in the State’s wetlands.
  • The terracotta work of Gorakhpur is a centuries-old traditional art form, where the potters make various animal figures like, horses, elephants, camel, goat and ox with hand-applied ornamentation.
  • Some of the major products of craftsmanship include the Hauda elephants, Mahawatdar horse, deer, camel, five-faced Ganesha, singled-faced Ganesha, elephant table, chandeliers and hanging bells.

Centre urges industry players to support and reduce crop loss 

  • Expressing concern over loss of harvested crops in different parts of the country, the Centre on Wednesday asked industry players to buy perishable vegetables and fruits besides foodgrains to reduce wastage and benefit farmers amid COVID-19-induced lockdown. 
  • Union Food Processing Industries Minister HarsimratKaurBadal pointed out this issue in a meeting with members of industry chamber FICCI via video conference called to ascertain the requirement of food processing sector for post-lockdown scenario, an official statement said. 
  • The industry demanded a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for operating facilities in different containment zones, dedicated nodal officials for the food processing industry at state levels to address challenges, standardized protocol for issuing worker passes to operate facilities and maintain supply chain besides reevaluating the process of identifying COVID clusters or region, the statement said. 
  • The food processing industry has been asked to send a working model to the government for considering allowing greater workforce to join the facilities. Suggestions have also been invited to frame a scheme to support the food industry, the ministry said. 
  • The secretary said that the government has already issued required advisories to address the challenges related to logistics, warehouse operations, movement of workers and vehicles etc. 

India-UAE to holds discussion to expand bilateral ties

  • Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of Culture discussed with Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, ways of strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the UAE and India in tangible and intangible heritage. 
  • Emirates News Agency in a press statement on Thursday said that during their phone call, Ms Al Kaabi highlighted the efforts of the culture and innovation sector to launch initiatives and incentives to ensure its sustainability. 
  • The UAE Minister also briefed her Indian counterpart about the precautionary measures taken by the UAE to counter the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
  • In his statement, Patel said that the two sides are aware of the initiatives taken by their governments to address the impact of COVID-19, particularly on the cultural sector.

India-G20 to come out with digital action plan to fight COVID

  • India has called upon the G20 countries to come out with a concrete Digital action plan to fight the Covid-19.
  • Communications and Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized on the responsibility of G20 nations to focus on making inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of the ongoing pandemic. 
  • He was attending an extraordinary virtual G20 Digital Economy Ministers meeting to discuss the challenges posed by the pandemic and to forge a global coordinated response harnessing Digital Technologies.
  • Mr. Prasad highlighted the steps taken by Indian Government to contain the spread and offered the roadmap for the world to emulate.Mr Prasad also emphasized the importance to revive the economy while continuing the fight against COVID-19. 
  • He said that next phase of digitalization is about applications that will impact livelihoods, accelerate various sectors, strengthen the supply chain and build a cyber safe world.
     

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Courtesy: The Hindu

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