Andhra Pradesh bags 10 awards
The ODOP initiative is aimed at nurturing balanced regional development across the country by selecting, branding, and promoting one product from each district of the country. According to RP Sisodiya, Special Chief Secretary to the Government (Handlooms and Textiles), seven of the awards for AP were for handloom as well as handicraft products and two for agriculture-based products. Additionally, Andhra Pradesh received an award in the inter-state ODOP category, the details of which will be announced on Monday at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, where Union Minister Piyush Goyal will present the awards. Sisodiya attributed these accolades to the focused efforts of the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who has prioritised the revival and promotion of traditional crafts and rural livelihoods.
The award-winning products include Bobbili Veena (Vizianagaram), Etikoppaka toys (Anakapalli), Peddapuram silk sarees (Kakinada), Chirala silk sarees (Bapatla), Venkatagiri sarees (Tirupati), Narasapur crochet lace (West Godavari) and Dharmavaram silk sarees (Sri Sathya Sai) in the Handloom and Handicrafts category. In the Agricultural Products category, Guntur chilli and cashew from Srikakulam won the awards.
The Special Chief Secretary said it was a matter of pride that AP had been selected in the inter-state ODOP category, the specific segment of which would be revealed during the ceremony. Sisodiya appreciated AP for achieving such national recognition within just one year of the coalition government taking office.
According to state officials, the state government is actively working to bring more products under the ODOP framework. Chief Minister Naidu has already engaged with the Central government, advocating for the inclusion of banana from Kadapa, tomato from Chittoor, and groundnut from Anantapur in the ODOP scheme. The larger goal is to ensure that each district in Andhra Pradesh is represented by a signature product, thereby boosting local industries and empowering producers.
The plethora of awards for AP is expected to significantly enhance marketing and sales of traditional handloom and handicraft products. Special training programmes are being organized for artisans, infusing fresh enthusiasm among them. Sisodiya acknowledged the crucial role played by the central government, alongside the Chief Minister's support, in AP securing this recognition.
To further bolster the handloom sector, the state government will launch a free electricity scheme for weavers on August 7, coinciding with National Handloom Day. Under this initiative, 200 units of power would be provided free to handloom operators and 500 units free power to power-loom operators. On the same day, the government will release thrift fund contributions to weavers, fulfilling a key pre-election promise made by Chief Minister Naidu and Minister Lokesh to the weaving community.
Efforts are lso underway to expand the marketing network for handloom products. Currently, 97 APCO showrooms operate across the state, with plans to open more outlets to improve access and visibility for locally produced garments. E-commerce platforms are also being utilised to boost sales.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Despite revision, government staff await hiked allowance
NEW DELHI: Nearly one and a half years after the Centre hiked Dearness Allowance to 50 per cent, government employees are still waiting for the payment of revised allowances for the period from January to June 2024. While civic bodies like the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and New Delhi Municipal Council have already cleared the revised arrears for their employees, city government staff complain that the government is yet to do the same. Employees continue to pursue the matter with their respective department heads, but no clear directive has been issued so far. According to employees and staff unions, all central government ministries, offices, and autonomous bodies across the country have implemented the enhanced allowances effective from January 1, 2024, in line with the Department of Expenditure's order issued on March 12, 2024. 'We have been denied many revised allowances including nursing allowance, dress, hospital patient care, and other DA indexes for one and a half years. Besides, the increased House Rent Allowance is pending for six months,' a government staff member said. 'For the first time in history, the Government of NCT of Delhi appears to be taking independent decisions on matters related to pay and allowances, despite not having the authority to alter such financial provisions,' alleged an official familiar with the issue. Employees have urged the Delhi government to immediately release the pending allowances.
Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Centre to form panel to resolve Andhra-Telangana water issues
The Union government on Wednesday decided to constitute a high-level expert committee comprising officials and technical experts within a week to resolve pending inter-state water issues related to Krishna and Godavari river projects between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Centre to form panel to resolve Andhra-Telangana water issues The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil with Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu, along with irrigation ministers of both states at Shram Shakti Bhavan in New Delhi. 'To address the remaining issues in a comprehensive and technical manner, it was decided to constitute a committee,' the Jal Shakti ministry said in a statement, adding the committee will collaboratively assess outstanding issues and recommend equitable and technically viable solutions. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Revanth Reddy said both states decided to form a committee of officials and engineers to deliberate on water disputes. 'The committee's report will guide future action,' the Telangana CM said. While Andhra Pradesh irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said his government had submitted a written proposal to the Centre on the controversial Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), the Telangana CM said the issue did not come up for discussion at all. 'The Polavaram-Banakacherla project issue wasn't part of the agenda. So, the question of having a discussion on the issue and debating its cancellation did not arise,' the Congress leader said. 'The meeting went on in a cordial manner and the outcome was in favour of Telangana… Some people want conflicts between the states. But our agenda is to resolve disputes peacefully, not to provoke fights.' The meeting also saw agreement on installing telemetry instruments at all off-take points along the Krishna river and its canals to measure the exact quantity of water being drawn by both the states. 'We requested the Centre to support telemetry installation due to doubts about Krishna water usage. Even if the Centre does not fund it, the Telangana government will allocate funds. The previous government showed no urgency, but we've now decided to move forward,' Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Both states also agreed that the Godavari River Management Board will be headquartered in Telangana, while the Krishna River Management Board will be based in Andhra Pradesh, he said. His Andhra Pradesh counterpart Ramanaidu said: 'This committee will draft a roadmap to provide justice to both states. Though governed by different parties, we are Telugu people and must work together.' He added that Andhra Pradesh had agreed to take steps for the protection of Srisailam project. 'The meeting discussed the need to take up repairs and safety measures. The Centre will act based on the expert committee's recommendations,' Ramanaidu added. The TDP leader said that Andhra Pradesh had submitted its proposal on the Polavaram-Banakacherla project which would utilise only surplus water flowing into the sea. 'We presented 100-year flow averages in the river, noting that 3,000 TMC of Godavari water enters the sea annually, and the project would divert only 200 TMC,' he added. The NDA-led Andhra Pradesh government said the project would not harm upper riparian states and urged Telangana and the Centre to understand its position being a lower riparian state. It also emphasised that the state had not opposed any Telangana project in the last 11 years.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
43 minutes ago
- First Post
Syria vs Druze: How did Israel get involved?
On Wednesday (July 17), Israel escalated its attacks on Syria, striking the headquarters of the Syrian army in Damascus, in support of the Druze minority in the country. As the strikes brought the region to the brink of conflict, the newly formed Syrian government and the Druze authorities called for a ceasefire. The question is — will Jerusalem abide by it? read more Soldiers inspect the damaged Syrian Defence Ministry building allegedly hit by several Israeli airstrikes, in Damascus, Syria, on Wednesday, July 16. AP It began as a local conflict in southern Syria between local Druze and Bedouin communities. However, it escalated into Israel bombing Syria's Ministry of Defence and other targets, forcing foreign intervention from the United States. Now, the Syrian army has announced that it is withdrawing from violence-hit Sweida shortly after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X, 'We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what exactly happened in Syria? Why did Israel bomb its neighbouring country? We unpack the complex situation unfolding in that part of the world. What led to new violence between Syria and Israel? According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, the recent violence began in Sweida after members of a Bedouin tribe set up a checkpoint where they attacked and robbed a Druze man over the weekend, leading to tit-for-tat attacks and kidnappings between the tribes and Druze armed groups. For those unaware, the Druze are a religious sect that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Members of the Druze minority and their supporters protest outside the US Embassy in Jerusalem, amid the clashes between Syrian government forces and Druze armed groups in the southern Syrian city of Sweida. AP This led to government security forces being deployed in the area. However, they were seen as siding with the Bedouin tribes. The Syrian observatory reported that around 300 people have died in the clashes, with 27 of them being 'summarily executed'. In fact, videos and reports have emerged that show government forces burning and looting houses and humiliating Druze men by forcibly shaving their moustaches. Then, how did Israel get involved in the conflict? On July 15, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Jewish nation is 'committed to preventing harm to the Druze due to the deep brotherly alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel and their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria.' Shortly later, Israel launched aerial strikes at Syria, bombing several Syrian military positions in Sweida. 'We will not allow harm to the Druze in Syria,' said Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, adding his country will 'not stand idly by'. But critics note that Israel is engaging in the 'divide and rule' policy in Syria with the aim of weakening the new government. Moreover, it's trying to create a buffer zone to protect the border with the Golan Heights — originally Syrian territory that it has occupied and annexed for almost half a century. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, since the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad last December, Israel has been carrying out hundreds of strikes against military sites in Syria, claiming its goal was to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of the new government. What happened next? Since Monday (July 14), Israel has been targeting Syria — the Israeli military struck Syrian tanks on Monday and has continued to conduct dozens of drone strikes on troops, killing some soldiers. Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on Syria's defence ministry in Damascus. Reuters But on Wednesday, it escalated its attacks, striking twice. The Jewish nation struck the headquarters of the Syrian army in Damascus, a compound that also houses the defence ministry. Witnesses told AFP that they heard an explosion in the area of the presidential palace, where the Israeli military said it had struck a 'military target'. In one video on social media, a television reporter can be seen running for cover as strikes hit the buildings behind her, while warplanes can be heard swooping low over the capital. Footage shows the moment of the Israeli airstrike in Damascus a short while ago. — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 16, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Katz later added troops would 'operate forcefully in Sweida to eliminate the forces that attacked the Druze until their full withdrawal'. The Israeli defence minister said that 'the signals to Damascus are over — now come the painful blows', sharing Syrian television footage of an explosion in Damascus on his X account. Has a truce been declared? Will Israel abide by it? On Wednesday, amid Israel's heavy bombing, Syrian government officials and the Druze announced a renewed ceasefire. The Syrian army 'has begun withdrawing from the city of Sweida in implementation of the terms of the adopted agreement, after the end of the sweep of the city for outlaw groups,' a defence ministry statement said. Announcing the new ceasefire on Wednesday, Syria's interior ministry said there would be a 'total and immediate halt to all military operations', as well as the formation of a committee comprising government representatives and Druze spiritual leaders to supervise its implementation. People gather, near the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, amid the ongoing conflict in the Druze areas in Syria, in Majdal Shams. Reuters Later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on X that all sides had 'agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end'. 'This will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made and this is what we fully expect them to do,' he wrote, without elaborating on the nature of the agreement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Israel has not yet commented on the ceasefire bid. In fact, Israeli strikes continued even after the ceasefire announcement. After the ceasefire announcement, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in a televised address said that protecting the Druze citizens and their rights is 'our priority'. In a veiled dig at Israel, he added, 'We are not among those who fear the war. We have spent our lives facing challenges and defending our people, but we have put the interests of the Syrians before chaos and destruction. He further expanded, saying that the Syrian people are not afraid of war and are ready to fight if their dignity is threatened. With inputs from agencies
