In 2023, Kerala and Tamil Nadu marked the 100th anniversary of the Vaikom movement, underlining its enduring significance.

• Tamil Nadu has instituted a “Vaikom Award” to honor individuals advocating for social justice.

Vaikom Satyagraha: A Tale of Reform and Solidarity

Background

• Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25) was a satyagraha (social protest) in the princely state Travancore, British India (now part of Kerala, India) against untouchability in Hindu society.  
• The movement was centered at the Shiva temple at Vaikom, near (present district) Kottayam. 
• Aim: To secure freedom to all sections of society through the public roads leading to the Sri Mahadeva Temple at Vaikom. 
• Kottayam town is historically significant as the center of the non-violent struggle against caste-based discrimination and temple access restrictions in 1924. (The map above highlights Vaikom’s location, along with nearby key landmarks such as Kochi and Alappuzha.)

Historical context

• According to the prevalent caste system in Kerala  and the rest of India, low-caste Hindus  were not allowed to enter into the temples. In Kerala, they were not even allowed to walk on the roads that led to the temples.
• In the Kakinada meet of the Congress Party in 1923, T K Madhavan presented a report citing the discrimination that the depressed castes‘ people were facing in Kerala. It was after this session that movements against untouchability were promoted.
• The Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–1925) was a pivotal non-violent movement against caste-based discrimination in Kerala. Its primary goal was to grant access to the roads surrounding the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, which were restricted to lower-caste individuals.
• Motto: The motto of the Vaikom Satyagraha was “One Caste, One God, One Humanity”. This slogan was coined by Narayana Guru.

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Key Leaders and Strategies

• T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon, and K. Kelappan spearheaded the movement, emphasizing grassroots mobilization and negotiation.
• Mahatma Gandhi joined later, elevating the movement to national prominence and providing moral guidance. Gandhi made three proposals.
  • First was to hold a referendum among all adults in either Vaikom or in Travancore. 
  • The second was mediation: one scholar from each side would put forth an argument and the Diwan would pronounce the verdict. 
  • The third was that the orthodox should produce a scriptural text that authorised the practice of untouchability.
• Gandhi left it to the orthodox to choose. But somewhat shockingly, he further committed that the satyagrahis would be bound by any  decision made, irrespective of its implications, while the orthodox were free to not accept the final decision. This led to differences in strategy between local leaders and Gandhi.

Broader Support

• The movement gained support from Tamil Nadu, especially from Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, whose participation highlighted the issue’s pan-Indian relevance. Periyar’s arrest drew significant attention to the cause.
• Role of Women: Periyar’s wife Nagammai and sister Kannammal, played a critical role in mobilizing support and challenging societal norms. Thus, it was an inclusive movement.

Key Achievements and Present day Implications

• Abolition of Caste Restrictions: The movement was a catalyst in removing caste-based entry barriers in public spaces across Kerala.
• Women’s Participation: Enhanced women’s roles in socio-political movements, a progressive change for that era.
• Pan-Indian Relevance: Created solidarity across communities and inspired similar movements nationwide.
• Demonstrating the effectiveness of Gandhian methods of civil disobedience.
• Bringing untouchability to the forefront of political issues in India.

Temple Entry Proclamation (1936)

• This proclamation, issued on November 12, 1936, by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma of Travancore, declared that all Hindus, irrespective of caste, could enter temples under the administration of the Travancore government.
• The proclamation was influenced by various factors, including the broader social reform movements of the time, lobbying by leaders like Sri Narayana Guru, and the efforts of organizations such as the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam.
• It was also shaped by growing public pressure, the efforts of reformers like T. K. Madhavan and Mahatma Gandhi, and a progressive shift in the mindset of the ruling elite.

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Constitutional and Legislative Implications

• Article 17 of the Indian Constitution: Abolished untouchability, reinforcing the principles championed by the Satyagraha.
• Social Reforms: Kerala’s later strides in education and social justice stemmed partly from the momentum generated by this movement.

Loopholes and Challenges

• Incomplete Reforms: While caste barriers in public spaces diminished, systemic inequalities persist. Example: Covert caste based discrimination.
• Economic Disparities: Lower castes, despite legal rights, face economic and social exclusion in many areas. 
• Cultural Resistance: The remnants of caste discrimination continue in covert forms, particularly in rural India. Example: Separate utensils given to eat
• Temple Entry Proclamation: In 1936, the Maharaja of Travancore signed this proclamation, which allowed lower-caste people to enter temples. 
• Opening of roads: Three out of four roads around the Vaikom Temple were opened to people of all castes. The fourth road was reserved for Brahmins. 

Contemporary Relevance

• The Vaikom Satyagraha is commemorated with memorials, including the Vaikom Satyagraha Memorial Museum and Periyar’s Memorial.
• Rise in Caste-based Violence: Incidents like the Una Dalit flogging highlight the need for renewed social reform efforts.
• Reservation Debates: Challenges in implementing caste-based reservations fairly are linked to ongoing social disparities.
• Temple Entry Movements: Similar agitations, like women’s entry into the Sabarimala Temple, echo the Vaikom Satyagraha’s principles.

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Conclusion

The Vaikom Satyagraha remains a symbol of social reform and inter-caste solidarity. It showcases the potential of united, peaceful resistance in challenging entrenched societal hierarchies and achieving lasting change.

Celebrating the centenary of Vaikom is not just a tribute to Periyar’s persistence and B.R. Ambedkar’s acumen but also a re-assertion of the strong reformist tendencies that continue to pervade through modern-day politik in South India. Thereby, ingrained in India’s Constitutional morality till today.

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The Opposition INDIA bloc parties in Rajya Sabha are preparing to give notice to move a motion to impeach Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav for his alleged remarks at an event organised by an organisation last week.

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Impeachment process of Judges

• The Constitution provides that a judge can be removed only by an order of the President, based on a motion passed by both Houses of Parliament. 
• The process of impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India. 
  • Article 218 says the same provisions shall apply in relation to a judge of the High Court as well.
• Grounds for Removal: A judge can be removed by Parliament through a laid-down procedure on only two grounds: “proved misbehaviour” and “incapacity”
  • However, Constitution not describe of what constitutes ‘incapacity and proved misbehaviourʼ
• Procedure: 
  • The procedure to be followed for impeachment of a judge is laid down in the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968
  • Under Section 3 of the Act, for a motion of impeachment to be taken up, it has to be moved by not less than 100 members in the Lower House, and at least 50 members in the Upper House.
  • The Speaker/Chairman may admit the motion or refuse to admit it. 
• Committee:
  • Once the motion is brought in, the Speaker/ Chairman has to constitute a three-member committee of inquiry. 
  • Composition: The committee is headed by the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court, and has a Chief Justice of any High Court, and a person who is in the opinion of the Speaker/ Chairman, a “distinguished jurist”. 
    • For Example: When the motion of impeachment against Justice Soumitra Sen was moved in 2011, the distinguished jurist was Fali Nariman.
  • Role of Committee: The committee frames the charges, and can seek a medical test for the judge if the impeachment charge is on the grounds of mental incapacity. 
    • The committee has the power to regulate its procedure, call for evidence, and cross-examine witnesses.
    • Submission of Report: The committee will submit a report to the Speaker/ Chairman with its findings and observations. 
      • The Speaker/ Chairman will then place the report before Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha “as soon as may be”.
      • If the report finds that the judge is not guilty of misbehaviour or incapacity, the matter will end there.
      • In case of a guilty finding, the report of the committee is adopted by the House in which it was introduced, and then an address is made to the President by each House of Parliament in the same session seeking the judge’s removal.

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Arvind Panagariya, Chairman, 16th Finance Commission termed the grievance of States regarding the Centre’s increasing reliance on cesses and surcharges as a “complicated issue.”

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Difference between Cess, Surcharge, and Tax

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Scientists in India have reported success with using gene therapy to treat severe haemophilia A, a rare hereditary condition resulting from a faulty gene which triggers severe, spontaneous, and potentially fatal bleeding Episodes.

About Hemophilia A

• Hemophilia A, also known as classical haemophilia, is a rare and genetic bleeding disorder caused by insufficient levels of a blood protein called factor VIII. 
  • Factor VIII is a clotting factor (an essential protein required for blood to clot and stop bleeding).
• Caused by: Hemophilia A is caused by disruptions or changes (variants or mutations) to the F8 gene located on the X chromosome. 
• Susceptibles: Hemophilia A is mostly expressed in males but some females who carry the gene variant may have mild or, rarely, severe symptoms of bleeding. 

About Hemophilia A

• Hemophilia:  Group of rare bleeding disorders caused by a congenital deficiency in specific clotting factors
  • Most prevalent form is Hemophilia A
• Males are much more likely to have hemophilia than are females.

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Why is it more prevalent in males?

• Males have one X and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes. If a male inherits an X chromosome with the defective gene from his mother, He will have hemophilia A. 
• Females with one defective copy typically do not experience symptoms because the other X chromosome usually provides enough factor VIII. 
• Females can have hemophilia A if they inherit two defective copies, one from each parent (much less common). 

About Gene Therapy For Haemophilia

• Gene therapy, Roctavian, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for commercial use in 2023. 
• It works by transporting the therapeutic gene into the body by using an adenovirus as a carrier or vector and involves the liver in producing Factor VIII.

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Recently, the Supreme Court vowed to go to “any extent possible” to ensure that manual scavenging and Hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks are wiped out, saying the issue dealt with the question of human dignity.

• The Supreme Court was referring to its October 20, 2023 judgment in which it had issued directions to the Union and State governments to take measures to eradicate manual scavenging and hazardous.

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About Manual Scavenging

What is manual scavenging?

• Definition of manual scavenging: The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 defines ‘manual scavenger’ as “a person engaged in or employed for manually carrying human excreta”. 
  • The Act recognizes manual scavenging as a “dehumanizing practice,” and cites a need to “correct the historical injustice and indignity suffered by the manual scavengers.”
• Constitutional Safeguards 
  • Article 14:  Equality before the law and equal protection of the laws.
  • Article 17:  Abolition of untouchability and prohibition of its practice in any form.
  • Article 21:  Protection of life and personal liberty.
  • Article 23:  Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.
• Legal Provisions:  Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, Main legislation that aims to prohibit and eliminate manual scavenging in India.

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Government Initiatives to Curb Manual Scavenging

• Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) → It was revised in 2013, with the:
  • Provision of One Time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000/- to one identified manual scavenger in the family.
  • Capital subsidy upto Rs. 3.25 lakh to identified manual scavengers and their dependents for self-employment projects upto Rs. 10.00 lakh.
  • Skill Development Training up to two years to identify manual scavengers and their dependents with stipend of Rs. 3,000/- per month during the training period.
• NAMASTE scheme: National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme was launched in 202223 for 100% mechanisation of sewer work by 2025-26
  • SRMS has now been merged with the NAMASTE scheme.
• Launch of the Swachata mobile app in 2016 : To complain for possible signs of ongoing manual scavenging.
• Other Related Initiatives:  Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge & Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan 

National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK)

• The NCSK was constituted as a statutory body under the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993.
• Currently,  it is working as a non-statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The  NCSK is responsible for giving recommendations to the government regarding specific programs for the welfare of Safai Karamcharis, studying and evaluating the existing welfare programs for Safai Karamcharis, investigating cases of specific grievances etc.

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IIT Ropar’s iHub AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub unveils Cost-Effective Bluetooth Low Energy Gateway and Node System with Advanced Data Security to revolutionize IoT applications across various sectors.

About Bluetooth Low Energy Gateway

• Definition:  A cost-effective system connecting bluetooth-enabled sensors to cloud platforms, enabling seamless data transmission, real-time monitoring, and analytics.

Key Features

• Robust Connectivity: It Supports 4G, WiFi, and LAN for flexible networking.
• Long-Range Communication:  It is helpful in Data transmission up to 1 km in line-of-sight (LOS).
• Data Aggregation: It Collects and processes data from multiple connected nodes for streamlined analysis.
• Weatherproof and Compact Design: It is durable in extreme weather conditions, yet user-friendly and compact.
• Wireless Connectivity:  It reduces installation costs by eliminating extensive wiring and supporting remote deployments.
• Low Power Consumption: It is energy-efficient for prolonged operation.
• Scalability: It can manage over 100+ connected BLE nodes, suitable for large-scale IoT networks.
• Firmware Over-The-Air (FOTA): It enables remote firmware updates with minimal manual intervention.
• Compatibility:  It Integrates with mobile apps, cloud platforms, and various sensors.

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Potential Applications

• Agriculture:  Monitors factors like soil moisture and air quality for precision farming, improving sustainability.
• Logistics:  Ensures optimal environmental conditions for perishable goods, reducing spoilage risks.
• Smart Cities & Industrial Sites:  Enhances operational efficiency, security, and resource management with large-scale monitoring.
• Real-Time Data and Alerts:  Provides proactive responses to temperature changes or unauthorized movements.

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The World Health Organi-sation (WHO) South East Asia Region contributes about 1.5% of the burden of malaria cases globally and India accounted for about half of all estimated cases in 2023, followed by Indo-nesia, which carried just under one-third.

• India and Indonesia accounted for about 88% of malaria deaths in the region.
• This is according to the WHO’s latest World Malaria Report (2024) released on 11 December 2024.

Key Highlights

Global Overview

• Cases: Malaria cases reached an estimated 263 million in 2023 across 83 countries, up from 252 million in 2022 and 226 million in 2015.
• Deaths: Malaria deaths climbed to 597,000 in 2023, up from 578,000 in 2015. However, the mortality rate has decreased since the COVID-19 peak in 2020, which caused significant disruptions.
• Africa: Continues to bear 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of deaths in 2023.

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India’s Performance

• India successfully exited the HBHI initiative in 2024. Between 2017 and 2023, malaria cases in India dropped by 69% (from 6.4 million to 2 million), and deaths fell by 68% (from 11,100 to 3,500).

Emerging Threats

• Drug Resistance: Partial resistance to artemisinin, a key malaria treatment, has been confirmed in Eritrea, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania, with suspected cases in Ethiopia and Sudan.
• Insecticide Resistance: Pyrethroid resistance has been reported in 55 of 64 monitored countries, prompting WHO to recommend next-generation insecticide-treated nets.
• Invasive Species: The Anopheles stephensi mosquito, known for thriving in urban areas, has expanded to eight African countries, complicating malaria control efforts.
• Zoonotic Malaria: Cases of P. knowlesi, a zoonotic malaria parasite, rose by 19% in 2023, with 3,290 reported cases in Southeast Asia.

About Malaria Disease

• Type of disease: Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes and caused by plasmodium protozoa. 
• Prevalence: It poses a life-threatening risk, primarily affecting tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, South America, and Asia.
• Cause:
  • This disease is caused by plasmodium parasites, which spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. 
  • These parasites multiply initially in liver cells and then attack Red 
• Transmission: Not contagious; Cannot spread from one person to another
• Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection.
• Yaounde Declaration
  • Species and Threat: Five parasite species cause malaria in humans, with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax posing the most significant threat.

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Vector-borne diseases

• Vector-borne diseases:  Account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more than 700 000 deaths annually. 
  • They can be caused by either parasites, bacteria or viruses.
  • Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious pathogens between humans, or from animals to humans.
• Malaria: Parasitic infection transmitted by Anopheline mosquitoes. 
• Dengue:  Most prevalent viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. 
• Other viral diseases transmitted by vectors include:  Chikungunya fever, Zika virus fever, yellow fever, West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis (all transmitted by mosquitoes), tick-borne encephalitis (transmitted by ticks) and Oropouche fever (transmitted by Culicoides flies)
• The burden of these diseases is highest in tropical and subtropical areas.

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Recently, The Social Dialogue Report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), released in Geneva.

About Social Dialogue report

• The Social Dialogue Report evaluates the effectiveness of social dialogue mechanisms globally. 
• It identifies best practices and challenges while offering actionable recommendations to improve the system.
• Purpose of the Report
  • Assessment:
    • Analyzes the state of social dialogue across various countries.
    • Highlights success stories and identifies areas needing improvement.
  • Recommendations:
    • Suggests ways for governments, employers, and workers’ organizations to strengthen social dialogue mechanisms.
• Significance of the Report
  • Highlights the critical role of social dialogue in achieving:
    • Economic growth.
    • Social progress.
    • Inclusive development.
  • This report underscores the need for collaboration between governments, employers, and workers to build fairer and more equitable workplaces worldwide.
• Benefits of Social Dialogue
  • Economic and Social Progress: Enables countries to pursue economic development alongside social progress.
  • Inclusive Transitions: Ensures fair and inclusive low-carbon and digital transitions.

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Highlights of the Social Dialogue Report by ILO

Key Recommendations

• Upholding Workers’ Rights:
  • Governments should ensure fundamental principles and rights at work, focusing on:
    • Freedom of association.
    • Recognition of collective bargaining rights.
• Strengthening Social Partners:
  • Equip labour administrations and social partners with resources and technical expertise to actively participate in peak-level social dialogue (PLSD).
• Inclusivity and Evaluation:
  • Expand national social dialogue institutions (NSDIs) to include under-represented groups.
  • Conduct regular, evidence-based assessments of PLSD’s role in socio-economic decision-making.

Key Findings

• Decline in Compliance:
  • Between 2015 and 2022, compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights deteriorated by 7%.
  • The decline stems from violations of civil liberties and bargaining rights of workers, employers, and their representative organisations.
• Global Transformation Challenges:
• Social dialogue is essential for managing transitions in:
  • • Low-carbon economies.
    • Digital advancements.

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Recent data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has confirmed findings from the Hubble Space Telescope regarding the universe’s faster-than-expected expansion. 

More on the News

• This  phenomenon of expansion is known as the Hubble Tension.
  • It poses problems as current scientific theories about how the universe has evolved cannot explain why it is expanding faster than expected.
  • It shows that there could be unknown forces or hidden elements influencing the cosmos.
• Possible Explanations : Scientists have proposed some ideas, including:
  • Unique Properties of Gravity: Gravity might behave differently on a cosmic scale than we currently understand.
  • Hidden Matter or Energy: There could be unknown forms of energy or matter, such as dark radiation, which includes particles like neutrinos.
  • Limited Knowledge of Dark Matter and Dark Energy: Our understanding of these mysterious components, which make up most of the universe, may be incomplete.

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How Did Scientists Measure the Universe’s Expansion?

• Scientists used special stars called Cepheids to measure the distances to galaxies. 
  • These stars are like cosmic mile markers.
• Both the Hubble and Webb telescopes observed these stars in many galaxies. 
  • Their measurements matched, showing that the measurements were accurate.
• Webb, being a more powerful telescope, confirmed Hubble’s findings.
  • It  eliminated the possibility of errors in Hubble’s observations.

Historical Context

• The Expanding Universe
  • The universe began with the Big Bang about 13-14 billion years ago.
  • In 1998, scientists discovered that this expansion is accelerating due to dark energy.
• Award-Winning Research
  • Adam Riess, a Nobel laureate, co-discovered the accelerated expansion and is leading this study.

Key Findings  from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (Webb)

• Faster Expansion of the Universe
  • The universe is expanding about 8% faster than predicted.
  • This discovery challenges current scientific models of how the universe works.
• Role of Dark Energy and Dark Matter
  • Dark Energy: Makes up 69% of the universe and drives the accelerated expansion of space.
  • Dark Matter: Accounts for 27% of the universe, affecting visible objects like stars and planets through gravity.
• The Hubble Constant
  • The Hubble constant measures the universe’s expansion speed.
  • Scientists expected a value of 67-68, but observations from Hubble and Webb show it at 73, with a possible range of 70-76.

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Challenges in Understanding the Hubble Tension

• Dark Matter and Dark Energy: Limited knowledge and difficulty in observing these mysterious components make it hard to accurately model the universe’s expansion.
• Measurement Errors: Issues like inaccurate telescope calibration, flawed data analysis methods, and unknown factors could affect the results.
• Theoretical Gaps: Current cosmological models might be incomplete, and the tension may require entirely new physics to resolve.
• Statistical Variations: Random data fluctuations or insufficient data could contribute to the discrepancy.
• Unforeseen Challenges: Unexpected discoveries or unknown influences could further complicate understanding the universe’s expansion.

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This article sheds light on the rapid expansion of space activities and  has raised concerns about potential interference with climate monitoring systems. 

What is Orbital Debris?

• It includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions.
• Current Situation: Of the 19,590 satellites launched since 1957, 13,230 remain in orbit, with 10,200 still functional.
• Collision Risks: Debris travels at speeds of up to 29 km/hr, and even small fragments can severely damage operational satellites.
  • The increasing mass of debris (over 13,000 tonnes) poses significant threats to satellite missions and crewed space programs.
• Impact on Climate Monitoring:  Space junk interferes with radio signals and affects the collection of Earth-monitoring data, raising operational costs and risks.

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Environmental Impact of Space Activities

• Rocket Emissions: Rocket launches release carbon dioxide, black carbon, and water vapor into the atmosphere.
  • Black carbon, which absorbs sunlight 500 times more effectively than carbon dioxide, intensifies global warming.
• Ozone Layer Damage: Chlorine-based rocket propellants deplete the ozone layer, leading to increased UV radiation and disrupting atmospheric circulation.
• Satellite Ash: Satellites burning up in the atmosphere release metallic ash, which can harm the atmosphere and potentially impact the global climate.
• Satellite Manufacturing: Producing satellites requires energy-intensive processes and materials with significant carbon footprints.
• Space Mining Concerns: Future space mining activities could increase industrial emissions both on Earth and in space.

Challenges to Space Sustainability

• Lack of Regulations: Space activities are not covered under international agreements like the Paris Agreement, leaving emissions and debris unchecked.
• Overcrowded Low Earth Orbit (LEO): The growing number of satellites and debris could make LEO too congested, increasing costs and limiting accessibility.

Solutions for Sustainable Space Exploration’

• Reusable Rockets: Rockets like those by SpaceX and Blue Origin reduce manufacturing waste. However, they require heavier components, increasing fuel use.
• Cleaner Fuels: Switching to liquid hydrogen and biofuels can minimize emissions. However, current hydrogen production relies on non-renewable energy sources.
• Biodegradable Satellites: Designing satellites with materials that disintegrate naturally during re-entry can reduce debris, but durability and cost remain challenges.
• Debris Removal Technology: Robotic arms and laser systems show promise for removing debris but are currently expensive and lack clear legal frameworks.
• Global Traffic Monitoring: A system to track satellites and debris in real-time can reduce collisions but requires overcoming resistance to data-sharing and establishing a unified authority.

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The Way Forward

• Binding Agreements: Governments should establish emission limits and debris management standards through bodies like COPUOS.
• Financial Incentives: Subsidies, penalties, and rewards can motivate private players to adopt sustainable practices.
• Prioritize Green Technologies: Increased funding for clean fuels, biodegradable satellites, and debris removal systems is crucial.

The future of space exploration depends on balancing technological advancements with environmental responsibility. Immediate and collective action is essential to ensure space remains a shared, sustainable resource.

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Ashtalakshmi 2024 Festival

Context: The Ashtalakshmi 2024 festival celebrates the beauty, culture, and diversity of the 8 North-Eastern States Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim.

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About Ashtalakshmi 2024 Festival

• These states are collectively called Ashtalakshmi, representing the eight forms of prosperity as embodied by goddess Lakshmi in the form of:  Prosperity, Opulence, Purity, Wealth, Knowledge, Duty, Agriculture, and Animal Husbandry.
• It offers a dynamic platform to display Northeast India’s vibrant textile sector, tourism opportunities, traditional craftmanship and distinctive Geographical Indication (GI) tagged products.
• Purvi is the mascot of the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav.
• Significance: The Mahotsav emphasize the significance of infrastructure development in Northeast India and its transformative impact.

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