Folk Deities of Tamil Nadu, Denisovan in Tibetan Highlands, Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

(General Studies III – Economy Section – Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment. Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it.)

• The manufacturing sector contributes 17% of India’s GDP and employs over 27.3 million workers, playing a significant role in the country’s economy. 
• However, several challenges and impediments hindered the sustained growth of the manufacturing sector and large-scale employment generation.

Status of Manufacturing in India –

• Contribution to GDP stands at 17%.
• Employment Generation: 27.3 million
• Manufacturing Exports: USD 447.46 billion in FY23
• Sectorial Advantage: Key manufacturing sectors in India, such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, electronics, industrial machinery, and textiles, have experienced significant growth in recent years.
• Rise of MSME: MSMEs currently contribute approximately 30% to GDP, playing a crucial role in driving economic growth and contributing nearly 45% of India’s total exports.

Challenges faced by Indian Manufacturing Sector in the Past –

• Regulatory Hurdles and License-Permit Raj: led to the discouraging entrepreneurial initiatives and dampening the private sector’s growth.
• Monopolistic Practices: Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act of 1969 suppressed large-scale production and hindered industrial growth.
• Rehabilitation and Resettlement Challenges: The implementation of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy for major projects faced difficulties, making land acquisition more complex in a democratic setting.
• Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Challenges in power, roads, telecom, and other infrastructure acted as limitations for industrial growth.
• Rigid Labour Laws: Rigid labour laws deterred investment, hindered competition, and negatively impacted the growth of the labour-intensive.
• Favourable Terms for MSMEs and Moral Hazard: Reservation for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with favourable terms led to a moral hazard, of not scaling up to large industries.

Present Day Challenges of Manufacturing in India –

• Outdated technology and inadequate infrastructure hinders the ability of Indian manufacturers to compete globally and meet international quality standards.
• Shortage of Skilled Workforce: As per World Bank, only 24% of India’s workforce possesses the skills required for complex manufacturing jobs.
• High Input Cost: As per RBI (2022) states that logistics costs in India are 14% higher compared to the global average which impacts the overall competitiveness of Indian manufacturing industry.
• Complex Regulatory Environment: It acts as deterrent for businesses looking to set up manufacturing units in India.
• Competition from China and Import Dependence: In 2023-24, China accounted for almost 42% of India’s textiles and clothing imports, 40% of machinery, and 38.4% of electronics imports.
• Access to Credit for MSME: The Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises (MSME) sector appears to have less favourable access to credit and higher costs for working capital.

Government Initiatives for Growth of the Industrial Sector

• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI): To scale up domestic manufacturing capability.
• PM Gati Shakti- National Master Plan: Multimodal connectivity infrastructure project.
• Bharatmala Project: To Improve connectivity in North East India
• Start-up India: To catalyze Startup culture in India
• Make in India 2.0: To transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat Campaign: To cut down import dependence.

Reforms needed to make India Manufacturing Hub –

• Labour Reforms: Easy higher and fire of workforce and ensuring Minimum Living Wage for workers.
• Empowering States: Directing and helping States on policy formulation related to manufacturing and promoting competition.
• Land Titling Act: As per The NITI AAYOG land accusation is the biggest hurdle in India. Government must pass thus Act.
• Single window Clearance: streamlining regulations to promote ease of doing business in India single window clearance is must.
• Fostering Innovation: Supporting research and development in the manufacturing sector, and promoting the adoption of new technologies and processes, could help drive innovation and boost productivity.
• Encouraging Skill Development: Providing more opportunities for training and skill development could help address the shortage of skilled labour in the manufacturing sector.

India’s manufacturing sector is in constant need of reforms to make the manufacturing sector globally competitive. The government needs to focus on the demand side of the economy by taking measures to raise the income of individuals which would lead to a cycle of production, consumption, and economic growth of the country.

Madurai Veeran (warrior of Madurai)

• He is a folk deity popular in Southern Tamil Nadu.
• The prefix to his name is because of his association with Madurai.
• He is venerated as the protector of the people of the city.
• There are also many folk songs, ballads and plays that describe his bravery.

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister released two books: “Folk Deities of Tamil Nadu: Worship, Tradition and Custom” and “Forts of Tamil Nadu: A Walk-Through.”
• The book on folk deities documents Tamil Nadu’s innumerable folk deities’ history, worship, tradition, and customs.
• Tamil society worshipped heroes who laid down their lives for a common cause. ‘Nadu Kal’ (hero stones) were erected to honour those heroes.
• Madurai Veeran, Kaathavarayan, and Muthupattan were raised to the status of deities for questioning existing norms of society and achieved martyrdom.
• Muneeswaran and Karuppasamy were worshipped as guardian deities, as per the book.
• The book also has chapters on Sudalai Madan, Ayyanar, Ponnar-Sankar, Maasani Amman, Bannari Amman, and Angalamman. With many of these deities and their worship methods fast disappearing.
• The book on forts explores the history of several forts in Tamil Nadu through essays and photographs, both contemporary and archival.
• It features Fort St. George in Chennai and forts at Gingee, Sadras, Thirumayam, Alamparai, Vandavasi, Vellore, Sankagiri, Tharangambadi, Ranjankudi, Krishnagiri, Dindigul, Cuddalore, Tiruchi Rockfort, Rayakottai, Namakkal, and Vattakottai.
• The book aims to deepen understanding of Tamil Nadu’s historical contribution to India.

Dig Deeper: Koodiyattam a Sanskrit theatre of Kerala uses many stories of Tamil Nadu folk deities, Read about Koodiyattam.

• A UN report in May 2023 highlighted that India accounted for over 17% of global maternal deaths in 2020, the highest share among the 10 countries responsible for 60% of global maternal deaths, stillbirths, and newborn deaths.
• The report emphasized the critical need to focus on maternal healthcare to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes and ensuring access to quality healthcare services (UNDP 2017).
• ‘Timely Access to Public Health Facilities for Pregnancy Care in Tribal Gujarat: A Geospatial Analysis’, study focuses on Gujarat’s tribal population, constituting 14.8% of the total population across 14 districts.
• Using GIS data, National Family Health Survey data, and geocoded health facilities, the study analysed accessibility to healthcare centres using car, motorcycle, and walking modes of transportation.
• The paper reveals that average pregnancy care coverage in Gujarat’s tribal districts is 88%. About 80% of women receive antenatal care (ANC), 90% give birth at healthcare facilities, and 92% receive postnatal care (PNC).
• The study on Gujarat’s tribal districts highlights broader national issues of healthcare inaccessibility for disadvantaged communities due to geographical constraints, contributing significantly to our understanding of maternal health.

Dig Deeper: Read about government initiatives to improve maternal and infant health.

• Bone remains found in Baishiya Karst Cave, a Tibetan cave 3,280 meters above sea level, suggest an ancient group of humans, the Denisovans, survived there for many millennia, according to a study published in Nature.
• Denisovans, an extinct species of ancient human, coexisted and interbred with Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.
• Archaeologists have discovered only a few Denisovan remains, and their extinction timeline remains unclear.
• The scientists identified one rib bone from a new Denisovan individual, dated between 48,000 and 32,000 years ago, during the time modern humans were spreading across Eurasia.
• This suggests Denisovans lived through both cold periods and a warmer interglacial period between the Middle and Late Pleistocene eras.
• The research team examined over 2,500 bones from Baishiya Karst Cave on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, one of only two known Denisovan habitats.
• Using a novel method exploiting differences in bone collagen, the team determined most bones belonged to blue sheep (bharal), wild yaks, equids, extinct woolly rhinos, and spotted hyenas, as well as small mammals like marmots and birds.
• They identified that Denisovans hunted, butchered, and ate various animal species.
• Detailed analysis of the bone surfaces shows that Denisovans removed meat and bone marrow and used the bones to produce tools.

Dig Deeper: Go through PYQ on Denisovan species of humans.

The Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is around 1,197 square kilometres, is the largest in Madhya Pradesh and a crucial corridor connecting the Panna and Satpura tiger reserves.
• Tiger reintroduction efforts in the Nauradehi Sanctuary began in 2018, and the tiger population now stands at 16, part of the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
• It is among the sites chosen for the reintroduction of cheetahs in India.

• The Madhya Pradesh government has initiated an inquiry into the alleged poaching of tigers and irregularities in the newly established Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, as per official documents.
• The reserve, the seventh in the state and the 54th in India includes areas within the Nauradehi and Veerangana Durgavati Sanctuaries.
• Located around 20 kilometres from Bhopal, it covers 2,339 square kilometres across Narsinghpur, Sagar, and Damoh districts.
• The investigation was launched by the forest department following an email from a wildlife activist alleging serious negligence in tiger conservation, tiger safari, and forest property management in the reserve.
• The deputy director of the tiger reserve has been directed to initiate the investigation and submit a report within seven days.
• The complaint claims that two tigers, N-113 and N-112, along with their cubs, have been missing since 2021 and alleges that the management falsely declared Tigress N-111 as Tigress N-112.
• There is a possibility of tiger poaching, and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been sought.
• Concerns have also been raised about the lack of prey and veterinary care adversely impacting the tigers in the reserve.

Dig Deeper: Go through the list of all Tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh.