Latest news with #Neera
Hans India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Swig super drink ‘Neera' with gusto to beat the summer heat
Hyderabad: As Telangana swelters under the scorching summer sun with daily temperatures often crossing 40°C, the state's residents are rediscovering a sweet and cooling companion from their cultural heritage – Neera. At a time when fizzy sodas and artificially flavored drinks dominate store shelves, this natural, non-alcoholic sap from palmyra palm trees is steadily carving out a space as a healthier, tastier, and more sustainable alternative. Neera is not a new entrant into the lives of Telangana's people. Collected at dawn by the skilled toddy tappers of the Gouda community, Neera has been a traditional morning refreshment in villages for generations. Neera is rich in natural sugars like glucose and fructose, making it an instant energy drink. It also contains vital nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and iron. Its low glycemic index has attracted the attention of health-conscious consumers and diabetics alike, while its natural composition aids in digestion and prevents dehydration – an essential quality during Telangana's punishing summers. The Telangana State government has taken significant steps to elevate Neera into a mainstream health drink under the guidance of the Neera Board and local self-help groups. The pilot initiative began in the Rangareddy district's Mudwin and Cherikonda villages, where around 500 toddy tappers were trained in hygienic Neera extraction practices. These trained tappers are now equipped with modern gear and special insulated containers that maintain sub-zero temperatures, preserving the sap in its fresh form during transportation to urban centres. According to official data, the State currently procures nearly 1,000 litres of Neera from registered tappers daily. Each litre earns a tapper Rs 50, helping many earn between Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 monthly, a significant jump from their previous seasonal earnings. The State plans to scale up this procurement to 5,000 litres per day over the next year, with an eye on both domestic consumption and exports. To bring Neera into the urban mainstream, the Telangana government has launched certified Neera stalls in Hyderabad, Warangal, and Karimnagar, offering city dwellers a safe, hygienic, and refreshing drink option. The inauguration of Hyderabad's first official Neera café in 2023 was a turning point in this movement.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Neera Arya: The fearless first woman spy of Indian National Army gets her biopic
Amid India's fight for independence, many heroes stand out for their contributions. Among them is Neera Arya , widely recognized as the first female spy in the Indian National Army . More than seventy years on, Neera Arya's courageous story of selfless dedication to the nation is finally coming to light through a biographical film directed by Kannada filmmaker Roopa Iyer . Early Life and Education Neera Arya was born on March 5, 1902, in Khekra Nagar, Baghpat district, into a prominent family. Her father, Seth Chhajjumal, a well-known businessman, ensured that Neera and her brother Basant received their education in Kolkata. From an early age, Neera showed a strong passion for her country's well-being and, after finishing school, enlisted as a soldier in the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the Azad Hind Fauj . Marriage and Conflict by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Readers says this maybe the best Cable TV Communications Search Now Undo Her father married her to Srikant Jai Ranjan Das, a British Army officer and CID Inspector. They had different beliefs, which caused problems. When Srikant found out Neera was part of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's army, he tried to get information from her. Neera refused to tell him. One day, Srikant followed Neera while she was meeting Bose and fired a gun, hitting Bose's driver. She quickly acted and killed Srikant to protect Bose. Because of this, the British sent her to prison in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But she never stopped loving and fighting for her country. Imprisonment and Torture During her imprisonment, Neera was offered bail if she revealed information about the Indian National Congress leaders, especially Subhash Chandra Bose. However, she refused and even spat at a prison guard. Historical accounts state that, as punishment for her silence, her breasts were cut off. Despite this brutal torture, Neera remained steadfastly loyal to the nation and was honored by Bose himself as the first woman spy of the Azad Hind Fauj. The Upcoming Biopic Roopa Iyer is set to debut in Bollywood both as an actress and director with this biographical film. The screenplay is penned by Varun Gautham, a National Award-winning writer. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Two lakh palm trees identified for Neera production in Bihar
Under the 'Mukhyamantri Neera Samvardhan Yojana' (Chief Minister's Neera Promotion Scheme) launched on April 30, Bihar government has planned to provide employment and financial assistance to palm tree owners and toddy tappers (person who extracts Neera - unfermented palm sap drink). The scheme has been implemented for the toddy season from April to July this year with the joint initiative of Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department and Jeevika, the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society. An incentive amount will be given to 20,000 toddy tappers at the rate of ₹8 per litre of Neera produced directly to their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Two lakh palm trees have been identified for Neera production in Bihar. Leader of the Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav had earlier promised to make changes to the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 by keeping toddy out of its ambit. People engaged in toddy tapping belong to the Pasi (Dalit) community and it is their only source of income. Failed venture After total prohibition was announced in April 2016, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said that Neera would be processed into a health drink and marketed across the State. However, the initiative failed to make a mark in the open market and several Neera kiosks were shut down. Under the Prohibition Act, the toddy (Taadi) is banned and the government has made alternative arrangements for the people involved in its production and sale. The State government is continuously promoting Neera, the palm juice tapped fresh before sunrise. The same juice turns toddy after fermentation. The highest number of toddy tappers and palm trees in the State have been identified in Nalanda, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali districts. After verification of the tapper through Jeevika, the license is issued by the Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department. To promote the production of Neera, palm tree owners will be given an additional incentive amount for a maximum of 10 trees at the rate of ₹3 per litre of Neera produced . In this, an incentive amount of ₹5,850 will be paid to the palm tree owner for the ownership and tapping of a maximum of ten trees at the rate of ₹585 per tree. Under the scheme, on tapping 10 trees, the tappers will get ₹15,600 and the owner of 10 palm trees will get an incentive of ₹5,850 directly from the Jeevika group in their bank account through DBT. A proportional incentive amount will be payable for less than 10 palm trees. At the same time, the tappers will also be given a separate amount of ₹30 per tree for marking the palm tree. Most of the Neera sales centres are established in Nalanda district. Explaining its benefits, a senior official of the Prohibition department on Thursday said, 'Neera is very beneficial for health and that's the reason the State government is promoting it. Minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, sodium and phosphorus are found in abundance in Neera. Also, the antioxidants present in it strengthen the body's immune system. It is a natural probiotic and helps in increasing hemoglobin.'
