The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has underlined some green rules for the living root bridges of Meghalaya to get the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag.
Living Root Bridges
A living root bridge is a type of simple suspension bridge formed of living plant roots by tree shaping.
They are common in the southern part of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya. Such a bridge is locally called jingkieng jri.
They are handmade from the aerial roots of rubber fig trees (Ficus elastic) by the Khasi and Jaintia peoples of the mountainous terrain along the southern part of the Shillong Plateau.
Most of the bridges grow on steep slopes of subtropical moist broadleaf forest between 50m and 1150m above sea level.
Why is it so unique?
As long as the tree from which it is formed remains healthy, the roots in the bridge can naturally grow thick and strengthen.
New roots can grow throughout the tree’s life and must be pruned or manipulated to strengthen the bridge.
Once mature some bridges can have as many as 50 or more people crossing, and have a lifespan of up to 150 years.
Work is going apace on the 216-ft tall ‘Statue of Equality’ of the 11th century reformer and Vaishnavite saint, Sri Ramanuja, to be unveiled by PM Modi next month in Hyderabad.
Statue of Equality
The ‘Statue of Equality’, as it is called, is being installed to mark the 1,000th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanuja.
It was built of panchaloha, a combination of gold, silver, copper, brass and zinc, by the Aerospun Corporation in China and shipped to India.
It is the second largest in the world in sitting position of the saint.
The monument will be surrounded by 108 “Divya Desams” of Sri Vaishnavite tradition (model temples) like Tirumala, Srirangam, Kanchi, Ahobhilam, Badrinath, Muktinath, Ayodhya, Brindavan, Kumbakonam and others.
The idols of deities and structures were constructed in the shape at the existing temples.
Who was Sri Ramanuja?
Ramanuja or Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 CE) was a philosopher, Hindu theologian, social reformer, and one of the most important exponents of Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism.
His philosophical foundations for devotionalism were influential to the Bhakti movement.
His works
Ramanuja’s philosophical foundation was qualified monism and is called Vishishtadvaita in the Hindu tradition.
His ideas are one of three subschools in Vedanta, the other two are known as Adi Shankara’s Advaita (absolute monism) and Madhvacharya’s Dvaita (dualism)
Important writings include:
Vedarthasangraha (literally, “Summary of the Vedas meaning”),
Sri Bhashya (a review and commentary on the Brahma Sutras),
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (a review and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita), and
The minor works titled Vedantapida, Vedantasara, Gadya Trayam (which is a compilation of three texts called the Saranagati Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam and the Srivaikunta Gadyam), and Nitya Grantham.
Mobile apps have become a significant part of the lives of smartphone users. Almost every person seems to be dependent on them.
However there is a huge flipside of this flourishing mobile app environment which has become evident quite often in the recent past in cases like that of Bulli Bai App.
These apps were used to target women and communities.
So how do we deal with such challenges and what are the provisions in the legal framework to tackle such issues.
Bulli Bai App Controversy: A Backgrounder
On New Year’s Day, hundreds of Muslim women in India including journalists, social workers, and other prominent personalities found their images and derogatory content about them on a new app called “Bulli Bai”.
The app, created on hosting platform Github, offered an online “auction” of women.
It derives its name from the derogatory term used for women of a particular community.
A critical case of abuse
The app is clearly an example of online trolling where the dignity and modesty of a woman is highly downgraded.
This has not been the very first time. Earlier, no arrests were ever made showing Police inaction.
The authorities were using the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to obtain information about the creators of such apps from California-based GitHub.
Why is it a cause of worry?
Large user-base: There are about 40 crore internet users and about 25 crore social media users in India.
Behavioral impact: Apart from having a huge impact on the life of people, the apps also influence how a person thinks, behaves, or perceives.
Lack of regulatory framework: India currently does not have a dedicated legal framework to govern mobile applications.
No self regulations: There is no government or self guidelines currently in place in India, regulating the apps.
Legal provisions against such Crimes
For making arrests, the police have invoked Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 354D, 500 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
Section 153A pertains to the offence of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony
Section 153B relates to imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration
Section 295A provides punishment for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings
Section 354D provides that any man who monitors the use by a woman of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication with malintent, commits the offence of stalking.
Section 500 defines the punishment for defamation
Section 509 addresses the offence of word, gesture or act intended insulting the modesty of a woman
Section 67 of the IT Act lays down the punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form
What are the other provisions related to cybercrimes?
Section 66E of the IT Act prescribes punishment for violation of privacy.
IPC sections 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) and 354C (voyeurism) of the IPC were introduced along with sections 354B and 354D in 2013.
Threats posed by such apps
Foreign scams: These apps are run by scammers in Pakistan and China.
Money laundering: More than 40,000 crore hawala transactions took place in India through the distribution of instant loans.
Espionage: Mobile apps which are being operated by India’s hostile countries were also used for espionage.
Online betting: There are also gaming and betting apps that are currently being used extensively by mobile users in India.
Revenue bypass: PUBG (though a banned) gaming app reportedly raised a profit of 2500 crores functioning in India but did not pay any taxes in India.
Psycho-social impacts
These applications pose challenges such as addiction and induce violent behavior among children.
There are also examples of apps being used to promote hate crime and hate speeches as recently seen in the case of the Bulli Bai app.
Need for Regulations
No legal liability on intermediaries: The intermediaries are not liable for any third-party data or communication link hosted or stored on their platforms.
Inadequacy of cyber laws: Despite having provisions that address mobile applications, the entire aspect of regulating the affairs of mobile applications has not been defined or adequately dealt with under the Indian cyber laws.
Lack of holistic approach: The existing regulations hence do not cover the holistic challenges that are posed by the mobile applications and are to be updated and regulated to tackle the current challenges.
Way Forward
There is a need for a comprehensive umbrella IT Law that needs to be proactive and be reviewed from time to time to check the new challenges posed by the technology.
The available laws should be enforced in a stringent manner and strict actions should be taken against any violations.
Industry interventions should also be allowed in the implementation of the policies to make them dynamic and compliant with economic interests.
Recent developments warrant a comprehensive review of border management to ensure the all-weather security of our borders.
What makes India’s border management difficult?
India shares land borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, which stretch approximately 15,106 km.
In addition, we have an approximately 3,323 km-long LoC with Pakistan, which further extends to the rechristened 110 km stretch of “Actual Ground Position Line” (AGPL) dividing the Siachen glacier region.
Further east, we have the 3,488 km LAC with China.
We share maritime boundaries with Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and Indonesia; we have a 7,683 km coastline and an approximately 2 million sq km exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
This makes India’s task more complex than most other countries.
Multiple agencies securing borders
Complexity is accentuated by the fact that along with the army, we have multiple other security agencies — the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and the Paramilitary Forces (PMF) — sharing the responsibility.
While the army is deployed along the LoC and AGPL, the Border Security Force (BSF) looks after the international border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Guarding the LAC has been assigned to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Assam Rifles.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is responsible for guarding the borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
The Assam Rifles looks after our border with Myanmar.
In a nutshell, in addition to the army, we have four agencies guarding borders with six neighbours.
Conversely, maritime borders are guarded by a single agency — the Coast Guard.
Need for review of the border management
There is a lack of a coherent policy on training, planning and the conduct of guarding operations among various outfits.
Overall coordination is also affected.
Our adversary on the western border has often escalated violations by resorting to the prolonged use of military resources.
Chinese provocations along the LAC are military operations.
Clearly, the peace-time scenario is now by and large militarised.
Way forward
Single security agency: In this scenario, India needs a single security agency adequately equipped, suitably armed and trained in advanced military drills and sub-unit tactics to guard our borders.
Manpower from Army: Further, to augment the battle efficiency, a fixed percentage of manpower, including the officer cadre, should be drawn on deputation from the army.
Paramilitary force under Ministry of Defence: To ensure the desired training and operational standards, this single security agency should be designated as a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Defence and operate under the army.
Mergers: The ITBP and the SSB should be fully merged into the new outfit; the BSF and CRPF still have important internal security duties and can be partially merged.
The reorganised Assam Rifles too should retain its role of conducting counter-insurgency operations and act as a reserve for the army for conventional operations.
Most countries have raised specialised and dedicated armed bodies for border security.
Iran has the Border Guard Command, Italy has the Border Police Service, Russia has created a Border Guard Service, whereas in the US, it is under Homeland Security.
Most of these countries, based on threat perception and for better combat cohesion, have placed these organisations under the command of the armed forces.
Conclusion
India should adopt a single agency with adequate resources and training to deal with the evolving challenges.
The iconic Amar Jawan Jyoti (AJJ) at India Gate was extinguished as a part of its merger with the flame at the National War Memorial (NWM). This has sparked a political controversy.
What is the Amar Jawan Jyoti?
The eternal flame at the AJJ underneath India Gate in central Delhi was an iconic symbol of the nation’s tributes to the soldiers who have died for the country in various wars and conflicts since Independence.
Established in 1972, it was to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.
The then PM Indira Gandhi had inaugurated it on Republic Day 1972, after India defeated Pakistan in December 1971.
Description of the bust
The key elements of the Amar Jawan Jyoti included a black marble plinth, a cenotaph, which acted as a tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The plinth had an inverted L1A1 self-loading riflewith a bayonet, on top of which was a soldier’s war helmet.
How the eternal flame was kept burning?
For 50 years the eternal flame had been burning underneath India Gate, without being extinguished.
But on Friday, the flame was finally put off, as it was merged with another eternal flame at the National War Memorial.
Since 1972, when it was inaugurated, it used to be kept alive with the help of cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG.
One cylinder could keep one burner alive for a day and a half.
In 2006 that was changed. Though a project that cost around Rs 6 lakh the fuel for the flames was changed from LPG to piped natural gas, or PNG.
It is through this piped gas that the flame marking the tribute to Indian soldiers had been kept alive eternally.
Why was it placed at India Gate?
The India Gate, All India War Memorial, as it was known earlier, was built by the British in 1931.
It was erected as a memorial to around 90,000 Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army, who had died in several wars and campaigns till then.
Names of more than 13,000 dead soldiers are mentioned on the memorial commemorating them.
As it was a memorial for the Indian soldiers killed in wars, the Amar Jawan Jyoti was established underneath it by the government in 1972.
Reasons for its relocation
The correct perspective is that the flame will not be extinguished, but just moved to be merged with the one at the National War Memorial.
The flame which paid homage to the soldiers killed in the 1971 War, does not even mention their name, and the India Gate is a “symbol of our colonial past”.
The names of all Indian martyrs from all the wars, including 1971 and wars before and after it are housed at the National War Memorial.
Hence it is a true tribute to have the flame paying tribute to martyrs there.
Further, it can also be seen as part of the government’s redevelopment of the entire Central Vista, of which India Gate, the AJJ and the National War Memorial are parts of.
What else is planned with the extinguish?
The canopy next to the India Gate will get a statue of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
The new statue will be 28 feet high.
Till the statue is completed, a hologram statue of Bose will be placed under the canopy, which he will unveil on January 23.
The canopy used to have a statue of Kind George V, which was removed in 1968.
Why Netaji?
January 23 this year marks his 125th birth anniversary.
From this year onwards, Republic Day celebrations will start on January 23, as opposed to the usual practice of starting it on January 24, to mark the birth anniversary of Bose.
It will end on January 30, the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
The government had earlier announced that Bose’s birth anniversary would be celebrated as Parakram Divas.
What is the National War Memorial and when was it made?
The National War Memorial, which is around 400 meters from India Gate was inaugurated in February 2019, in an area of around 40 acres.
It was built to commemorate all the soldiers who have laid down their lives in the various battles, wars, operations and conflicts of Independent India.
There are many independent memorials for such soldiers, but no memorial existed commemorating them all at the national level.
Discussions to build such a memorial had been ongoing since 1961, but it did not come up.
Its architecture
The architecture of the memorial is based on four concentric circles.
Largest is the Raksha Chakra or the Circle of Protection which is marked by a row of trees, each of which represent soldiers, who protect the country.
The Tyag Chakra, the Circle of Sacrifice, has circular concentric walls of honour based on the Chakravyuh.
The walls have independent granite tablets for each of the soldiers who have died for the country since Independence.
As of today, there are 26,466 names of such soldiers on these granite tablets etched in golden letters.
A tablet is added every time a soldier is killed in the line of duty.
The final is the Amar Chakra, the Circle of Immortality, which has an obelisk, and the Eternal Flame.
Busts of the 21 soldiers who have been conferred with the highest gallantry award of the country, Param Vir Chakra, are also installed at the memorial.
At COP-26 in Glasgow, countries got together to sign the Declaration on Forests and Land Use (or the Deforestation Declaration). However, India was among the few countries that did not sign the declaration.
What is this Deforestation Declaration?
It was signed by 142 countries, which represented over 90 percent of forests across the world.
The declaration commits to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.
The signatories committed $19 billion in private and public funds to this end.
Why did India abstain from joining?
India had concerns about the linkage the declaration makes between deforestation, infrastructure development and trade.
Any commitment to the environment and climate change should not involve any reference to trade, cited India.
Analysts in India have linked the decision to a proposed amendment to the Forest Conservation Act 1980 that would ease the clearances presently required for acquiring forest land for new infrastructure projects.
India abstained from many things
A look at India’s positions on some other recent critical pledges and decisions related to climate change reveals a clear pattern of objections or absence.
At CoP26, India was not part of the dialogue on Forests, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT).
FACT, which is supported by 28 countries seeks to encourage “sustainable development and trade of agricultural commodities while protecting and managing sustainably forests and other critical ecosystems”.
India also voted against a recent draft resolution to allow for discussions related to climate change and its impact on international peace and security to be taken up at the UNSC.
Why should India join this declaration?
Broadly speaking, all of India’s objections are based on procedural issues at multilateral fora.
Although justifiable on paper, these objections seem blind to the diverse ways in which climate change is linked to global trade, deforestation, agriculture, and international peace, among other issues.
For context, consider India’s palm oil trade. India is the largest importer of crude palm oil in the world.
Palm oil cultivation, covering roughly 16 million acres of land in Indonesia and Malaysia, has been the biggest driver of deforestation in the two countries.
The Central Government has proposed four amendments to Rule 6(1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 dealing with deputation, and has sought the views of State governments before January 25, 2022.
Historical background of All India Services
It was Sardar Patel who had championed the creation of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS) as “All India Services” (AIS) whose members would be recruited and appointed by the Centre and allotted to various States, and who could serve both under the State and the Centre.
Speaking to the Constituent Assembly on October 10, 1949, Patel said, “The Union will go, you will not have a united India if you have not a good All India Service which has the independence to speak out its mind, which has a sense of security….”.
Central deputation of All India Service officers
Consultative process: AIS officers are made available for central deputation through a consultative process involving the Centre, the States and the officers concerned.
The Centre would choose officers only from among those “on offer” from the States.
Concurrence of the State government: The existing Rule 6(1) states that a cadre officer may be deputed to the Central Government (or to another State or a PSU) only with the concurrence of the State Government concerned.
However, it has a proviso which states that in case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government.
Unfortunately, both the Centre and the States have at times flouted these healthy conventions for political considerations.
The politicisation of the deputation process
In May 2021, the Centre unilaterally issued orders for the central deputation of the Chief Secretary of West Bengal just before his last day in service.
Some States used to vindictively withhold the names of some of the officers who had opted for central deputation or delay their relief after they were picked up by the Centre.
The proposed amendment to rule: The Central Government has proposed four amendments to Rule 6(1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 dealing with deputation.
Two of the four proposed amendments are disconcerting
1] Providing a fixed number of IAS officers for central deputation: One is a new proviso making it mandatory for the State government to provide a certain fixed number of IAS officers for central deputation every year.
The proposed amendment more or less compels a State government to offer IAS officers for central deputation even when these officers themselves may not wish to go on central deputation.
Reasons for shortage of IAS officers: Poor working conditions in junior-level posts, an opaque and arbitrary system of empanelment for senior-level posts, and lack of security of tenure at all levels are the real reasons for the shortage of IAS officers, which the Centre should address.
2] Requiring states to release the officer: The other is a proviso that requires the State government to release such officers whose services may be sought by the Central Government in specific situations.
Based on experiences of the recent past, State governments have a justified apprehension that this proviso may be misused for political considerations.
Issues with the proposed amendments
The contemplated changes have grave implications for the independence, security and morale of IAS officers.
Infringement of rights of States: States are right in perceiving the proposed amendments as a serious infringement of their rights to deploy IAS officers as they deem best, especially when the cutting edge of policy implementation is mostly at the State level.
States may prefer officers of the State Civil Services to handle as many posts as possible.
. In course of time, the IAS will lose its sheen, and the best and the brightest candidates will no longer opt for the IAS.
Against cooperative federalism: In S.R. Bommai vs Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court held that “States have an independent constitutional existence and they have as important a role to play in the political, social, educational and cultural life of the people as the Union. They are neither satellites nor agents of the Centre”.
Consider the questions “What are the proposed amendments to IAS Rule 1954? What are the concerns with the proposed changes?”
Conclusion
In a federal setup, it is inevitable that differences and disputes would arise between the Centre and the States. But all such quarrels should be resolved in the spirit of cooperative federalism and keeping the larger national interest in mind.
The latest order in Rahul Ramesh Wagh v. State of Maharashtra &Ors makes it mandatory that the principles laid down by the Supreme Court for providing reservation to OBCs in local bodies shall be followed across the country.
Let us understand the Case
Maharashtra had constituted a Commission to ascertain the backwardness of OBCs in June 2021.
But without waiting for an empirical report, an ordinance was promulgated to amend the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads Act, Panchayat Samitis Act and the Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act.
They were aimed to conduct local body elections with OBC reservation.
This was struck down by the Supreme Court.
The latest case arose out of the challenge made to the ordinance promulgated on the teeth of the Supreme Court judgments by the Governor of Maharashtra to conduct the local body elections by providing 27% reservation to OBCs.
What did the SC observe now?
Reservation to OBCs in local body elections without empirical base can no more be sustainable in law.
The latest order in RR Wagh v. State of Maharashtra & others makes it mandatory that the principles laid down by the Supreme Court for providing reservation to OBCs in local bodies shall be scrupulously followed across the country.
Which principles is the apex court talking about?
A five-judge Constitution Bench in the K. Krishnamurthy (Dr.) v. Union of India (2010) judgment said that barriers to political participation are not the same as barriers to education and employment.
Though reservation to local bodies is permissible, the top court declared that the same is subject to three conditions:
to set up a dedicated Commission to conduct empirical inquiryinto the nature of the backwardness in local bodies
to specify theproportion of reservation required to be provisioned local body-wise
such reservation shall not exceed aggregate of 50% cap of the total seats reserved for SCs/STs/OBCs taken together
This is famously referred as ‘Triplet Test’.
Major takeaways of K. Krishnamurthy Case
In this case, the Supreme Court had interpreted Article 243D(6) and Article 243T(6), which permit reservation by enactment of law for backward classes in local bodies respectively.
It held that barriers to political participation are not the same as that of the barriers that limit access to education and employment.
However, for creating a level playing field, reservation may be desirable as mandated by the aforementioned conditions.
Above articles provide a separate constitutional basis for reservation, as distinct from what are conceived under Article 15 (4) and Article 16 (4) which form the basis for reservation in education and employment.
Reception of the Krishnamurthy Judgment
The Indian political class usually displays apathy to the law declared by the courts as contrary to the enacted law.
The 2010 judgment was not acted upon and the constitutionality of the enacted reservation was challenged.
This resulted in the 2021 judgment of a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court.
What can be concluded from the aspirant’s perspective?
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to stall the local body elections in the wake of the judicial interference.
Elections, undoubtedly, must be held on time.
Since Judiciary does not usually interfere into Elections, States often seek to bypass the OBC reservation issues.
Conclusion
Had the governments stuck to the law as mandated by Article 141 of the Constitution, this quandary wouldn’t have arisen.
Much of the judiciary’s time could have been saved.
Rule of law is not just a set of letters, but it has to be followed in spirit.
Back2Basics: Article 141 of the Constitution
It stipulates that the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all Courts within the territory of India.
Thus, the general principles laid down, by the Supreme Court are binding on each individual including those who are not a party to an order.
The Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) report published in The Lancet provides the most comprehensive estimate of the global impact of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) so far.
What is AMR?
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR or AR) is the ability of a microbe to resist the effects of medication that once could successfully treat the microbe
Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process.
A growing number of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis – are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective.
It leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality.
How does it occur?
Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines.
Bacteria, not humans or animals, become antibiotic-resistant.
These bacteria may infect humans and animals, and the infections they cause are harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria.
What did the GRAM report find?
AMR is a leading cause of death globally, higher than HIV/AIDS or malaria.
As many as 4.95 million deaths may be associated with bacterial AMR in 2019.
Lower respiratory tract infections accounted for more than 1.5 million deaths associated with resistance in 2019, making it the most common infectious syndrome.
The six leading pathogens for deaths associated with resistance were:
Escherichia coli (E. Coli)
Staphylococcus aureus
Klebsiella pneumonia
Streptococcus pneumonia
Acinetobacter baumannii
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What are the implications of this study?
Common infections such as lower respiratory tract infections, bloodstream infections, and intra-abdominal infections are now killing hundreds of thousands of people every.
This includes historically treatable illnesses, such as pneumonia, hospital-acquired infections, and foodborne ailments.
Way forward
Doctors recommend greater action to monitor and control infections, globally, nationally and within individual hospitals.
Access to vaccines, clean water and sanitation ought to be expanded.
The use of antibiotics unrelated to treating human disease, such as in food and animal production must be “optimised” and finally they recommend being “more thoughtful”.
Medaram, a tiny village in Telangana’s tribal heartland of Mulugu district, is getting ready to host the Sammakka-Sarakka jatara, billed as the country’s biggest tribal fair.
Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara
The mega four-day jatara, scheduled to begin on February 16 in Medaram. It takes place once in two years.
It is perhaps the only tribal fair devoted to pay tribute to tribal warriors who made supreme sacrifices defending the rights of aboriginal tribal people.
It symbolises the traditions and heritage of the Koya tribal people.
The sacred site in Medaram and its surrounding Jampanna vagu, named after tribal martyr Jampanna, son of Sammakka, comes alive with lakhs of devotees during the four-day jatara.
Why do tribals come to Medaram?
This festival commemorates a tribal revolt led by Sammakka and Saralamma, a mother-daughter duo, against levy of taxes on tribal people during drought conditions by the then Kakatiya rulers in the 12th century.
Tribals (and others) flock to Medaram during the jatara not just from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh but also from as far as Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
Sammakka and Saralamma are revered by devotees as tribal goddesses, and devotees make offerings to propitiate them to bestow health and wealth.
All the rituals at the jatara site are held in tune with tribal traditions under the aegis of tribal priests.
Features of the celebrations
One of the striking features of the tribal fair is the offering of jaggery to the tribal goddess at the altars (bamboo poles).
It encompasses common features of tribal fairs – die-hard devotees going into a trance, the sacrifice of fowls and goats, besides pulsating traditional drum beats accompanying folk songs.
