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TIFAC launches 2 Initiatives ‘SAKSHAM’ Job Portal, Sea Weed Mission 

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TIFAC launches job portal SAKSHAM for workers and seawood missionOn Occasion of its 34th Foundation Day on February 10, 2021, Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) an autonomous organisation under Department of Science & Technology launched 2 new initiatives namely SAKSHAM Job Portal (Shramik Shakti Manch) & Sea Weed Mission. During the event, 2 New reports prepared by TIFAC were launched by Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale, independent Healthcare consultant. They are

  • ‘Techno-economic feasibility on Indian bamboo as Wood Substitute’
  • ‘Opportunities for Fruit and Vegetable Processing in North Eastern region of India’

The theme of the Foundation Day was ‘Technology, Innovation and Economy for Aatma Nirbhar Bharat

SAKSHAM:

It is a job portal for mapping the skills of Shramiks (Workers) and connecting them directly to MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) in their native places through WhatsApp & other offline platforms.

  • The portal is now live and can be accessed at www.sakshamtifac.org. The MSME industries have been enlisted from Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra etc.
  • It will enable placement of 10 Lakh Blue-Collar jobs (Pan-India) through direct connections and eliminate the need for middlemen & labour contractors.
  • The portal will also be used for identification of skill proficiency level and in development of Skill Cards for Shramiks.
  • It has been launched keeping in mind the crisis faced by workers during the pandemic.
  • As the industry contribution to the project, M/s. Sapio Analytics, Mumbai has agreed to give complimentary license of a business automation and accounting software to the MSMEs towards encouraging them to fill up their data and requirements on the portal on a first come first basis.

Seaweed Mission:

i.For Commercial Farming & Value Addition of seaweeds to boost the national economy.

ii.By an estimate, if seaweed cultivation is carried out in ~ 10 Million Hectares or 5% of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India it will generate employment to ~ 50 Million People.

iii.The Seaweed mission will be vital for

  • Establishing a new seaweed industry
  • Contribute to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
  • Ocean Productivity
  • Reduce Algal Blooms
  • Help in reduction of millions of tons of CO2
  • Creating a Healthier Ocean
  • Production of Bioethanol of upto 6.6 Billion Litres

iv.TIFAC will demonstrate a model with other ministries for commercial farming & value addition of seaweeds.

v.Out of the global seaweed production of ~ 32 million tons fresh weight valued around 12 billion US dollars. China produces ~57 %, Indonesia ~28% followed by South Korea, whereas India is having a mere share of ~0.01-0.02%.

Other Key Points:

  • Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary of DST stated that Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) & TIFAC can help in realizing Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ in every sector.
  • K. Saraswat, Chairman of TIFAC stated that the key priority areas in the future should be cyber-physical systems, quantum computing, green chemistry and water.
  • The National Research Foundation (NRF) announced in the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) would help in creating a sound platform for research in our country.

Recent Related News:

i.The Union Minister of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences Health & Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan, released the Action Agenda for Atma Nirbhar Bharat (AAAN) prepared by TIFAC in New Delhi.

ii.On 10th July 2020, the Union Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan released a White Paper on “Focused Interventions for Make in India Post COVID 19” & “Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients: Status, Issues, Technology Readiness and Challenges” prepared by TIFAC.

About Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC):
Executive Director – Pradeep Srivastava
Headquarters – New Delhi