Latest news with #Etikoppaka
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Concrete steps emphasised towards building ‘Vikasit Anakapalli district'
Anakapalli: Anakapalli district could not achieve the targets set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Jal Jeevan Mission was carried out during 2019-24 without long-term water resources, pointed out chairman of the Twenty Points Programme Implementation Lanka Dinakar. At a review meeting held in Anakapalli district on the progress made in implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, projects and issues related to infrastructure in the presence of District Collector Vijaya Krishnan, Assembly Speaker Ch Ayyannapatrudu, Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation chairman Peela Govind, among others, Lanka Dinakar said despite the statistics indicating that the previous government started 2,282 works between 2019-24 with an estimate of Rs 893.11 crore, 1085 works worth Rs.690.95 crore were completed and 784 works are in progress. However, he raised doubts about the quality of the works completed. 'The activities carried out in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vikasita Bharat 2047' and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's vision of 'Swarnandhra 2047' will be carried out by the officials here with an aim of overcoming the current challenges in the district and transforming it as 'VikasitAnakapalle district',' he stated. Speaking about the TIDCO houses, the officials informed that of the 6,184 houses allotted, a total of 3,688 houses have been completed, while loans have been sanctioned to 1,784 beneficiaries. Further, they added that 2,146 beneficiary families are residing in the total houses completed so far and Rs.38.27 crore will be required to complete the rest of the 2,496 houses. For tourism development in the district, Lanka Dinakar mentioned that there are Buddhist houses and stupas in Bojjanna Konda that can attract Buddhist monks from all over the world. 'There are famous Hindu temples and beaches that attract international and national tourists, and reservoirs that attract local tourists. There is a good scope to increase tourist footfall, especially by way of promoting the Etikoppaka toys. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned these dolls and our state's statue made in Etikoppaka in Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day have to be brought to the limelight,' the chairman of the Twenty Points Programme Implementation emphasised. The meeting focused on the material component of the Employment Guarantee Scheme, the irregularities that occurred during 2019-24, the current implementation, implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, development of the tourism sector, work towards creating an Anakapalli brand image for the production of organic jaggery to be used as an alternative to sugar, etc.,
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
There is a scope for development of tourism in Anakapalli district, says Chairman of Twenty-Point Programme Implementation
Chairman of Twenty-Point Programme Implementation Lanka Dinakar has said there is a scope for development of tourism in Anakapalli district as there are a number of Buddhist houses and stupas in Bojjanna Konda, which are historical monuments that can attract Buddhist monks from all over the world. He said there are famous Hindu temples and beaches that attract international and national tourists, and reservoirs that attract local tourists. 'There is a good chance of attracting tourists, especially by promoting the world famous Etikoppaka toys'. Things like Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioning these toys during his 'Mann ki Baat' address and showcasing of these toys at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi should be well publicised,' Mr. Dinakar said while reviewing the progress of implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes, projects and issues related to infrastructure along with District Collector Vijaya Krishnan. He said during the year 2023-24, a total of 3.40 lakh tourists visited various famous places in the district, which has the potential to be developed further. Reviewing the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Mr. Dinakar said the district could not achieve the targets set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi between 2019-24 due to non-availability of long-term water resources. The statistics show that the previous government had started 2,282 works between 2019-24 with an estimate of ₹8,93.11 crore, 1,085 works worth ₹690.95 crore have been completed and 784 works are in progress. Officials said that the remaining works have not been started. In the rural area of the district, water taps have been installed in 2.64 lakh houses out of 4.17 lakh houses, and work on another 1.53 lakh taps is expected to be done, but it is true that water is not coming from the completed taps. With respect to Gramin Sadak Yojana, Mr. Dinakar said the third phase of the work involves 13 roads worth ₹60.78 crore, 92.28 km in length, and four bridges worth ₹121.8 crore. 'Of the works related to 13 roads worth ₹50.53 crore, one bridge has been completed and the work on the remaining three bridges is under way,' the officials said. Officials said that 66,265 women in self-help groups in the district have been identified as 'Lakpati Didis' to make them millionaires, of which more than 65% are in agricultural-related work. 'There are 28,791 Didis with an annual income of more than ₹1 lakh.' One drone has been provided to self-help groups in the district under a pilot project to train them in the use of drones to benefit small and marginal farmers, and two more drones are ready to be provided to the beneficiaries. The Central government provides subsidy on drones.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Lacquered memories of timeless toys
The train from Tirupati was running late. Visakhapatnam was close, yet not close enough. It stood still, caught in the silent grip of a stubborn signal. Outside, life carried on, indifferent to my restless heart. Vendors wove through the crowd, their voices rising in rhythmic calls. One, in particular, caught my attention. An old woman. Bent with age, yet carrying a burden too heavy for her frail frame. A bundle of maybe 30 kg, balanced on her head, filled with little wooden toys. She moved with quiet resilience. Her silver hair peeked from beneath the weight, not just of her craft but of time itself. Etikoppaka. The name alone unravelled a rush of memories of my summer vacations. Women sat in courtyards, their fingers moving with instinctive grace. Shaping, carving, breathing life into every toy they made. Their hands carried stories, the weight of centuries pressing into every curve of wood. The men toiled over pigments, extracting colours from nature's own palette of roots, bark, and minerals mixed with lac to create hues that did not just paint just toys but also emotions. Those wooden wonders weren't just playthings; they were magic spinning tops that danced at a mere flick of the fingers, rattles that jingled with the laughter of innocence. But now? They rested behind glass, admired but untouched, relics of a world that had moved on. Yet, as I watched the woman disappear into the crowd, a truth settled within me. Some things do not fade. The touch of that wood, the scent of fresh lacquer, the joy those toys once brought, they linger, tucked in the corners of the heart, waiting to be remembered. My mother, too, had her own stories of Etikoppaka. She stored her vermilion in delicate wooden boxes, their lacquered surfaces holding not just sindoor but memories. But what she treasured most were the Lakkapidathalu — the miniature wooden kitchen sets. Even now, when she spoke of them, her eyes gleamed with the same childhood joy. Afternoons spent in makebelieve kitchens, friendships woven over toy stoves and tiny ladles, those moments were etched in her heart just as they were in mine. Her childhood was rooted in Lakkavaram in Anakapalle district. A village named after lac, the very resin that gives Etikoppaka toys their signature sheen. The same lacquer that once played a role in the Mahabharata's Lakshagraha, a house meant for destruction, now lives on in Etikoppaka toys, transformed into vessels of artistry and tradition. It is strange how something once tied to betrayal has found its place in creation, in the hands of artisans who shape not just wood, but stories meant to endure. And the colours! Etikoppaka toys were poetry, no rigid lines, no boundaries, just a seamless blend of hues, free and untamed, much like the childhoods they belonged to. But beyond the colours, it was the magic in those toys that mattered, the way their polished surfaces shimmered under the light, mirroring the sparkle in a child's eyes. The way they invited hands to hold them, to play, to dream. This was more than craftsmanship; it was devotion — a quiet defiance against time itself. These artisans did not merely shape wood; they shaped nostalgia, crafting echoes of a past that refused to be forgotten. As the train finally heaved forward, I carried with me more than just the anticipation of a journey's end. I carried the scent of lacquer, the whisper of spinning tops, the laughter of a childhood wrapped in wooden wonders. Etikoppaka toys are not just meant to be admired; they are meant to be played, withheld, and cherished. Perhaps, even now, they wait. Not in glass cases, but in the hands of children yet to discover their magic. kanakamsowjanya090@
Hans India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Experts highlight tariff policies affecting global supply chains
Visakhapatnam: 'Tariff on the table' event was hosted for MBA students specialising in International Business here on Friday, involving experts and students. The discussions at the event focused on how tariff policies can affect global supply chains, shift in international alliances, impact on consumer welfare and inflation. Broader global concerns such as trade imbalances, labour laws, environmental sustainability and access to emerging technologies also formed a part of the discussions. Aimed to provide students with real-world insights into the implications of global tariffs and their cascading effects on international trade, global economies, and business strategies, the event highlighted high-energy simulation of international trade negotiations. Organised by the Department of International Business, GITAM School of Business, the event saw students, representing business delegations from major global economies such as the United States, China, and Vietnam, engaged in mock trade talks. Adding real-world depth to the academic simulation, the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) official Asit Kumar Prusty briefed about managing export risks. Elite Logistics CEO Ravi Shankar who chaired the expert panel, highlighted the vast potential for the export-led growth in India, in Andhra Pradesh in particular. He spoke about AP's strength in key export sectors. School of Business in-charge director K Lubza Nihar gave an overview of the academic programmes and initiatives offered by the school. The event coordinator Radha Raghurama Patruni presented insights into the traditional export potential of Andhra Pradesh. She emphasised products such as Etikoppaka toys, Pochampalli sarees, and Araku coffee, all of which possess rich heritage and strong global appeal.
