The production of compostable bioplastic bags from cassava by smallholder farmers in Nagaland represents a promising development in sustainable materials.

Process of Bioplastic Production

• Starch Extraction:
• Source: Cassava roots, which are rich in starch, are used for this purpose.
• Method: The cassava roots are cleaned and then crushed to create a pulp. This pulp is processed to extract the starch.
• Sustainability: Cassava is a rapidly growing, renewable resource, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
• Plasticization:
• Purpose: The extracted starch is mixed with plasticizers such as glycerol. This step is crucial to enhance the flexibility and workability of the bioplastic.
• Outcome: The plasticizers help to create a material that is pliable and suitable for various applications.
• Molding:
• Process: The starch-plasticizer mixture is molded into the desired shapes, such as bags, cutlery, or other items.
• Customization: This step allows for the production of bioplastics in different forms and sizes according to the needs of the end product.
• Drying:
• Objective: The molded bioplastics are dried to remove moisture, which is essential to achieve the desired properties and prevent degradation.
• Result: Proper drying ensures that the bioplastic maintains its form and functionality during use.

Properties & Advantages of Cassava-Based Bioplastics

• Environmental Impact:
• Biodegradability: Cassava-based bioplastics are compostable, meaning they break down into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass when composted.
• Application: They are particularly suitable for single-use items like shopping bags, cutlery, and straws, helping to reduce the environmental footprint associated with conventional plastics.
• Water Sensitivity:
• Issue: These bioplastics can be sensitive to moisture, which can affect their mechanical strength and durability.
• Potential Uses: Despite this limitation, they hold promise for applications in disposable medical items like gloves, masks, and syringes, where they can offer a biodegradable alternative to traditional plastics.

Conclusion

The use of cassava for producing bioplastics represents a significant step towards more sustainable and eco-friendly materials. By leveraging a locally abundant resource, this approach not only supports environmental sustainability but also provides economic opportunities for smallholder farmers in Nagaland. However, addressing the water sensitivity of these bioplastics is essential for expanding their applications and improving their durability.

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), highlights significant findings:

• Overall Progress: Global data from 2015 to 2024 shows that only a small fraction of the SDG targets are on track.
• Challenges: The world is falling short in delivering on the SDG promises, with fewer than one-fifth of the targets currently on track.

About Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Concept: The idea of sustainable development, defined by the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report, emphasizes meeting current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
• MDGs: Before the SDGs, the UN established Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 to tackle issues like poverty, hunger, and disease, with targets set for 2015.
• SDGs: Adopted in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes 17 Goals and 169 targets to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and peace.

Reasons for Lagging Progress

• COVID-19 Pandemic: Disrupted progress in eradicating extreme poverty (SDG-1), negatively impacted life expectancy (SDG-3), and affected global education (SDG-4). It also disrupted financial flows for clean energy (SDG-7).
• Escalation of Conflicts: Conflicts in regions like Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan have displaced over 120 million people, impacting various SDGs.
• Financial Constraints: Developing countries need about $6 trillion for climate action (SDG-13), a significant financial burden.
• Environmental Challenges: Issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and deforestation hinder progress. For instance, the IPCC warns of severe coral loss due to warming (SDG-14).
• Disasters: Extreme weather events have disrupted lives and caused economic losses, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), impacting SDG-1.

India’s Status in Achieving SDGs

• Progress:
• SDG-3: Maternal Mortality Ratio decreased from 130 per 100,000 live births in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20.
• SDG-4: Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher secondary education increased from 48.32 in 2015-16 to 57.60 in 2021-22.
• SDG-6: Percentage of rural population with access to improved drinking water rose from 94.57% in 2015-16 to 99.29% in 2023-24.
• SDG-7: Installed renewable energy capacity increased from 63.25 watts per capita in 2014-15 to 136.56 watts per capita in 2023-24.
• SDG-9: Number of patents issued grew from 6,326 in 2015-16 to 103,057 in 2023-24.
• Key Interventions: Programs like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala, Swachh Bharat, Jan Dhan, Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, and PM-Mudra Yojana have contributed to this progress.
• Concerns:
• SDG-5: The wage gap between male and female casual laborers widened to Rs 178 in 2022-23 from Rs 96 in 2017-18.
• SDG-12: Hazardous waste generation per capita increased to 9.28 metric tonnes in 2022-23 from 7.19 metric tonnes in 2017-18.

Way Forward

• Peace: Resolve ongoing conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy; uphold UN Charter principles to prevent future conflicts.
• Finance: Develop a more equitable and effective international financial system. Focus on delivering concrete changes through various international platforms.
• Climate Change: Utilize the 2025 cycle of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to implement more ambitious climate action plans.
• Tailored Approaches: Prioritize SDGs based on national contexts, capacities, and immediate needs.
• Synergies: Integrate efforts across different SDGs, such as aligning poverty eradication with improving education and gender equality.

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024 underscores both progress and ongoing challenges, stressing the need for concerted global efforts to meet the 2030 targets.

Recent Tributes

• Birth Anniversary: The Prime Minister recently paid tribute to Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his birth anniversary, honoring his significant contributions to India’s struggle for independence.

Significance

• Architect of Modern India: Tilak was a key figure in India's independence movement and a staunch advocate of Swaraj (self-rule).
• Famous Declaration: His declaration, “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it,” was a powerful rallying cry for future revolutionaries and became a central slogan in the struggle for independence.
• Titles: The British labeled him the "Father of Indian Unrest," while his followers honored him with the title ‘Lokmanya’, meaning "one who is respected by the people."

Political Career

• Joining Congress: Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890 and quickly opposed the party’s moderate approach to self-rule.
• Advocacy for Revolt: He believed that constitutional measures alone were insufficient and pushed for an armed revolt against British rule.
• Swadeshi Movement: Following the 1905 partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, Tilak supported the Swadeshi movement and the boycott of British goods.
• Extremist Wing: His views aligned with the extremist faction within the Congress, distinguishing him from the moderates. Alongside Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai, he formed the influential trio known as Lal-Bal-Pal.

Imprisonment

• Chapekar Brothers Incident: Tilak’s support for revolutionary activities, including the assassination of British officials by the Chapekar brothers in 1897, led to his 18-month imprisonment on sedition charges.
• Support for Revolutionaries: He also backed the actions of Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki, which resulted in a six-year imprisonment (1908-1914) in Mandalay Jail, Burma, on charges of sedition.

All India Home Rule League

• Return to Politics: After his release from prison in 1915, Tilak re-engaged in politics with a more moderated approach.
• Formation of Home Rule League: In 1916, he co-founded the All India Home Rule League with Annie Besant. The League aimed at achieving self-government for India.
• Regional Work: Tilak’s league operated in Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Central Provinces, and Berar, while Besant’s league covered the rest of India.

Social Reforms

• Women’s Education and Empowerment: Tilak was a proponent of women's education and empowerment, ensuring his daughters received education and delayed their marriages until they were over 16.
• Cultural Celebrations: He promoted grand celebrations for Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji Jayanti to foster unity and nationalistic sentiments among Indians.

Literary Works

• Newspapers: Tilak published two influential newspapers: Mahratta (in English) and Kesari (in Marathi).
• Books: His significant literary works include The Orion or Researches into the Antiquity of the Vedas and The Arctic Home in the Vedas. He also wrote Gita Rahasya during his imprisonment, which offers a philosophical interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita.

Conclusion

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a pivotal figure in India's independence movement, known for his fiery patriotism, social reforms, and significant literary contributions. His legacy continues to inspire and shape Indian nationalism and identity.