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1stperson, Munirka, Munirka (2026)

03/12/2021

INSPIRED BY ROOTS, NACS TRANSFORMING BIHAR AND JHARKHAND

BK Prasad, a 1983 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, served in various capacities under the Govt. of Tamil Nadu and retired as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. Born in Munger district of Bihar, he completed his post-graduation from Bhagalpur University and did MPhil from Delhi University. In 2016, inspired by roots he started National Association of Civil Servants (NACS) - Bihar and Jharkhand to bring in a paradigm shift in the socio-economic conditions of these two states by seamlessly connecting with likeminded civil servants. As a Joint Secretary in Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (GoI) during 2009-11, he established six AIIMS in different locations including Patna. He is running Margdarshan, an IAS guidance programme, to assist underprivileged students to prepare for the civil service. His efforts have started showing results – more than 25 students from Margdarshan have been selected for 2021 batch. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, BK Prasad, President, NACS, unfolds his detailed plans.

#1. Tell us about your Margdarshan programme.

Margdarshan is playing a pivotal role in identifying brilliant students those are aspirants of civil service, screening the best candidates, and providing them intensive guidance to succeed in the examination without any cost. The members contribute towards the expenses of students. Those are finally selected take a pledge to give back to Margdarshan programme by guiding the civil service aspirants. This continues the chain of excellence. Margdarshan has already signed an MoU with Patna University for leveraging a permanent venue for mentoring and during pandemic started online classes to enable officers serving in different parts of the country to provide guidance and support in a seamless manner.

#2. How was the performance of your Margdarshan programme in 2021?

Of the 761 successful candidates in the UPSC civil service examination, more than 25 including the topper of the batch Shubham Kumar from Katihar district of Bihar were selected.

#3. What other activities is NACS executing?

During the recent pandemic, the members of NACS provided all sorts of help like provisioning of food, arranging transport, and facilitating healthcare services to migrant workers from Bihar and Jharkhand. The selfless services by NACS benefitted thousands of workers during the time of distress.

#4. What’s your future plan?

We are enlarging the fraternity by bringing in new members; expanding Margdarshan Programme District specific team, especially for aspirational districts; launching ‘Adopt a School’ Programme; and planning to build a Think-tank on disaster management.

30/11/2021

GAMIFYING QUIZ

Amit Khaitan, Co-founder, Intelligence Game Pvt. Ltd., is an innovative techpreneur who has transformed the sphere of online gaming by delivering experience and monetary rewards to the customers. With over two decades of hardcore technology experience in delivering medium & large projects for industries like e-Commerce, Telecom, ITeS, Sports, and Digital Media Marketing, Amit ventures into gaming industry to bring in a paradigm shift in knowledge-based gaming by providing a robust platform like Quizbee, an online educational gaming platform that delivers extraordinary gaming experience and cash prizes based upon the user’s knowledge. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, Amit unfolds how Quizbee has been revolutionizing the online gaming sector by pivoting on the strength of knowledge in any subject.

#1 What’s Quizbee?

Quizbee is a competitive & knowledge-based mobile platform application with multiple paid challenges that vary across different genres like movies, cricket, travel, food, general knowledge, and exciting puzzles. Today, Quizbee has revolutionized the online gaming space. It’s a go-to-destination for quiz and trivia lovers, challenging the knowledge & education domain of individuals. Quizbee delivers an immersive experience for gamers to play and compete with other players on quizzes that triggers the knowledgeable edge of individuals while ensuring a chance to win real-time money.

#2. How does Quizbee work?

The Quizbee platform enables the users to compete live with other players for real cash prizes by properly and swiftly answering the questions. On this platform people use their knowledge of educational subjects or even sports and movies to compete against other knowledgeable opponents and earn real money in the process.

#3. What’s your recent addition to Quizbee?

Recently, Quizbee has launched an exciting “Cricket” theme-based quiz game for all cricket enthusiasts. Gamers can now play in their favourite section while earning huge cash prizes within 2-3 minutes of the online gaming window. All the questions in the game will be based on the past events of the matches to avoid predictions. The cricket lovers can now enjoy their favourite sport-questions with a minimum entry fee of one rupee and can win bumper cash prizes up to Rs.1 lakh by playing regularly in the weekly tournaments.

#4. How does Quizbee differentiate from other gaming platforms?

There are a very few real money online gaming applications that would challenge the educational domain. We are proud that Quizbee reflects that approach. Quizbee has fostered an inclusive, safe, and welcoming community for friends, family, and students to play and learn simultaneously.

#5. Have you got any funding yet?

Looking to the substantial progress of Quizbee, the Kanodia Group, a pioneer in the Cement Industry for last 30 years, has raised an arm of support of un-disclosed funds. The fund will make the application more visible in the real gaming space along with the improvement in the user experience.

26/11/2021

MORE THAN 10,000 ARTISANS PRACTICING 2,500 YEARS OLD MADHUBANI PAINTING

Art & culture around the world has played a pivotal role in connecting people to the roots. The geographic importance of any art renders a sense of trust and authenticity of the product as people believe that the uniqueness of artistic representation can only be demonstrated by the local artisans of a specific region. India being home to millions of art forms has been nurturing artisans and craftsmen to showcase their artistic talent to the larger audience of the world. In this episode, 1stperson captures the tapestry and ubiquitous variety of Madhubani art that originated about 2,500 years ago is still thriving and getting the attention of art lovers from India and world. The history of Madhubani paintings is said to date back to the time of Ramayana when the king Janaka asked an artist to capture his daughter Sita’s wedding to prince Rama. These paintings were usually created by women on walls and floors of homes during festivals, ceremonies, or special occasions. Having originated in the Mithila region in Bihar, this form of painting, also known as Mithila art, has been in practice in areas around Bihar and Nepal. More than 10,000 artisans are doing this art and making their livelihood. Over a period, Madhubani paintings have reached the living rooms of global Indians and are showcasing the deeper strength of Indian artforms. In an exclusive interview with Rubi Devi, resident of Jitwarpur village of Madhubani district, Bihar, 1stperson brings out the essence of Madhubani art.

#1. How long have you been working in creating Madhubani art?

I have been working on this art form since last 20 years. I learnt it from my mother-in-law and now passing it to the next generation.

#2. What kind of products are you designing?

I am designing paintings, wall hangings, lamps, fruit baskets & trays, and products from papermass.

#3. Where have you participated to showcase your art forms and what’s the response?

I have participated and exhibited in more than 50 Gandhi Silp Bazar & Hunar Haat across the country. Earlier it was popular among foreigners but now demand in domestic market is picking up. It has become one of the main attractions of Indian drawing rooms.

#4. How is this art form empowering women?

Women are a major stakeholder in the form of producers in Madhubani art. These women aim to empower other women through painting and creating awareness on issues like education and eve-teasing. They are encouraging their students to paint on topics that are closer to their hearts – anything from folk tales they might have heard during their childhood to the status of women in the society today. It is interesting to note how paintings that were done by women to depict religion, traditions, and social norms are now being used by them to make their voices heard.

For queries, please contact Rubi Devi: +91-9560018930

16/11/2021

ONE PER CENT REDUCTION IN CROP LOSS CAN FEED MILLIONS OF MOUTHS

Dr. Arvind Nath Singh is serving ICAR-Indian Institute of Seed Science, Mau as Principal Scientist (Entomology). He possesses specializations in seed Entomology with 18 years of experience in insect pest management. In addition to this, he had also served Govt. of India as Director of National Seed Research and Training Centre, Varanasi and headed the Central Seed Testing Laboratory (CSTL) of country. He had been the Chairman of National Audit Team for technical auditing of Notified Seed Testing Laboratories of India and Member of Technical Committee of Central Seed Certification Board. Dr. Singh is also known for his contributions in establishment of IRRI South Asia Regional Centre in Varanasi, India. He had served ICAR-Indian Institute of Seed Science as Director (Acting) and coordinated All India Coordinated Research Project (Seeds). Dr. Singh has been chairman and member of various National and International committees. He is Fellow of Entomological Society of India and Plant Protection Association of India. Globally, over 500 million smallholder farmers provide food for two-thirds of earth's growing population. Achieving a zero-hunger world by 2030 depends on increasing the productivity of these smallholder farmers, but their crops face a significant threat. Yearly, an estimated 40% of crops grown worldwide are lost to pests. If crop losses can be reduced by 1%, millions people can be fed. The lack of access to timely, appropriate, and actionable extension advice makes it fundamentally challenging for farmers to get the right information at the right time to reduce crop losses. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, Dr. Singh talks about advancement in storage of seed and integrated insect & pest management.

#1. What’s integrated pest management?

Integrated pest management (IPM) is the synchronization of all the available control techniques to keep the insect below economic injury level in socially and economically sound manner. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN defines IPM as "the careful consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human health and the environment.” IPM has been urged by entomologists and ecologists for adoption of pest control for many years.

#2. What are the pest management practices for stored seeds?

There are several methods currently used for pest management of stored seeds including sanitation of the storage material, disinfestation, thermal control, solar heating, turning, dust insertion, usage of oil, mechanical disinfestation, use of modified atmosphere, paraistoids, use of chemical protectants, and fumigation.

#3. What’s mechanical disinfestation?

Mechanical seed processing removes large fraction of insects and insect infested seed. Moreover, diseased seeds are removed with mechanical processing of seed lots. Of different machines, screen-grading machines separate out all seeds which are broken or damaged by insects in the field, besides removing live insects and some of its stages. The gravity separator is extensively used to remove internally infested seed where the >25% of endosperm has been eaten away by the insect. Similarly, removal of cut seed or damaged seed reduces infestation by secondary feeders.

#4. How does modified atmosphere control pests?

The use and manipulation of natural components of the atmosphere, for example, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, to preserve food grains and products is known as "modified" or "altered" atmosphere storage. The normal gases of the atmosphere can be changed to achieve control of storage pests. Modified atmosphere systems depend on either depletion of oxygen to suffocate the organisms or the addition of carbon dioxide to act directly and kill them.

02/11/2021

THE CZARINA OF CATERING

Jyoti Tekchandani is the Founder of Riti-Rewaz-Caterers, managing Ritirewaz Caterer and RRBufetly in Ahmedabad. To make a mark and survive in this crowded segment, she decided to make quality food and service as her priority. Ritirewaz Caterer has been providing services to corporate giants such as Ashok Leyland, The Leela and more under the leadership of Jyoti. She established RitiRewaz Enterprise in 2011 and within a decade she could garner 2000+ customers to make their weddings and special events more memorable with flavoursome and enticing catering services. She manages the delivery of high standard, well-crafted menus with expertise in different types of delicious cuisines. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, Jyoti talks about the how the catering sector has immense opportunities and very few women are excelling in this domain.

#1. What are the challenges for women in catering industry?

Catering is mostly dominated my men and very few women are venturing into this sector. I would say no woman barring me is running a catering business in Ahmedabad. When I started nobody was trusting my abilities whether I would be able to deliver based on the customers’ expectations. However, I could live upto their expectation by focusing on the quality of food, hygiene, timely delivery, and professional management.

#2. Tell about your new startup RRBufetly.

It’s a cloud-based buffet meal in which we are providing meal for 5-50 people in 24 hours’ notice. In 2021, my startup has got the recognition from IIT Kharagpur in Idea Pitchfest. To expand further, I have joined Women Startup Program of IIM Bangalore to leverage digital marketing for growth hacking. Now, we are getting orders through our social media platforms. The response from corporate and society is quite exciting. We are also in talks with American technology accelerators like Y Combinator for funding. I am planning to expand this program on pan-India scale.

#3. What support do you want from government for this sector?

As you know, catering industry in India is around Rs. 30,000 crore, which is growing around 15-20% annually. Government should think about this industry and should bring out certain policies to streamline this sector.

#4. What do people expect from a catering company?

People want quality food with competitive price. Any successful corporate or social party is driven by quality and delicious food. Pricing is a major concern for people. Moreover, a caterer should have specialised chefs in all forms of cuisine. We consider all these things and provide peace of mind to our customers.

31/10/2021

TRANSFORMATION IN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS INDISPENSABLE

Manoj Kumar Bose is a Block Education Officer posted at Kachhauna block of Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh. He joined the service in 1998. Manoj is a BA, BEd from BHU and has completed Masters in Anthropology from Lucknow University. In 2015, he received the National Award for Innovation in Educational Administration for bringing in systemic changes in school education in the blocks he has served. Manoj has also been nominated for the President Award. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, Manoj speaks about the changes he has brought in the school educational system.

#1. What changes have you infused in the education system in your block?

Educational ecosystem comprises many stakeholders including society, teachers, students, and infrastructure. I always look at any problem with 360-degree view. If you want to bring in systemic changes, you must look at the entire ecosystem and the stakeholders. Primarily, there is a societal perception that government schools are not meant for privileged people, it’s for the underprivileged. I started analysing what people consider for opting for a school. The factors that drive their perception include quality teaching, good infrastructure, student-teacher ratio, library, and digital connectivity. I put serious efforts on addressing all these factors by collaborative with HCL Foundation to bring in visible changes that parents must consider for sending their children into government schools.

#2. What are the outcomes of your efforts?

My efforts have paid in. With the support of HCL Foundation, I have transformed 126 schools in terms of infrastructure, quality education, smart classes, and library. I ensured the schools should have all those essential parameters that would encourage parents to send their children to government schools. In my block, 60 students in class 9th to 12th are now getting National Merit cm Means scholarships, which is a record in a sense that no other block in the entire state has achieved such feat. Similarly, 50 students are getting scholarships in 6th to 8th standard.

#3. How did you ensure quality education in your block?

Quality education depends upon two factors such as training of teachers and the student-teacher ratio. I motivated the teachers as how they can make teaching interesting and engaging for students. While in-service training for teachers lifted the quality of teaching, effective student-teacher ratio helped improve interaction time of teachers with students. Furthermore, smart classes created a different kind of enthusiasm among the students. All these dimensions together worked to deliver quality education in schools.

#4. What’s your take on the primary educational system in the country?

The current primary education system in the country is mostly driven by rot education. Students are forced memorise everything and deliver like a caged parrot. You must understand that the primary education system is the most important factors in transforming India into a developed nation. Despite brilliant premier educational institutes like IITs and IIMs why India is far below the global educational index is because of our weakened primary education system. Although NEP 2020 proposes some magnificent transformation in the entire education system, the results after decades will only decide how effective was this policy. The primary education is the formative years of any student. If we fail to understand the psyche of the students and their inclination, higher education however robust won’t help them. Thus, we have a greater role to play in transforming our young minds into tomorrow’s leaders who can be scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs or whatever they want to become and contribute towards nation building.

29/10/2021

NATURAL FARMING: THE WAY FORWARD

Shobha Mallikarjun, owner of Marali Boomadilige Natural Farm, is bringing in a paradigm shift in natural farming by engaging 5 family members to raise Thai guava, coconut, drumstick, turmeric, ginger, papaya, sapota, mango, jackfruit, seasonal pulses, and vegetables in a natural way in Kunigal, Tumkur, Karnataka. She has got the pedigree of natural farming from her father. Shobha is a BBM graduate and has worked with ICICI and HSBC Bank as risk analyst. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, Shobha underscores why natural farming is an important aspect of agricultural evolution in India.

#1. How do you see the success as an agripreneur?

For me, success is not making money. Success is getting the soil rich and healthy, saving the trees, rearing indigenous cows, using traditional seeds, and most importantly growing crops, vegetables, and fruits in a natural way. Our farm is a use case for other farmers on how to improve livelihood through natural farming.

#2. What are you farming?

We are farming many vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants. Our farm produces coconut, papaya, guava, drumsticks, jackfruit, mango, sapota, custard apple, butter fruit, chilli, toor dal, red okra, turmeric & ginger, and every year we are adding new fruit plants.

#3. What are the benefits of moringa oil?

Drumstick/moringa oil is extracted from moringa matured seeds, they are edible, medicinal, highly nutrient's food, super food, and immunity booster. All parts of the moringa tree, including its seeds, roots, bark, flowers, and leaves, can be used for nutritional, industrial, or medicinal purposes. Moringa oil has been used as a medicinal cure and as a topical, cosmetic ingredient since ancient times. Moringa oil is high in protein and oleic acid, a monounsaturated, healthy fat. Moringa oil’s oleic acid makes it beneficial when used topically as a cleansing agent, and as a moisturizer for skin and hair. Moringa oil contains several bioactive compounds which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both when ingested and used topically.

#4. What’s the future of natural farming?

Chemicals and fertilizers are weakening the soil and in the long run our ecosystem will be destroyed. Looking at the severe consequences of synthetic farming, farmers are not shifting towards natural farming. They are using natural seeds and compost to grow crops and vegetables. I would see a bright future for natural farming in India, as people are becoming health conscious. Moreover, I would like to urge the farmers community to adopt natural farming to ensure a sustained future.

28/10/2021

A STRONG AND EMERGING VOICE OF WOMEN

Sarika Tripathi is an author focused on raising the women issues in Indian society has written eight books and written several articles and column in leading dailies like Hindustan, AmarUjala, Dainik Jagaran, Dainik Bhaskar-iNext, and Navbharat Times. Sarika is a radio jockey, voice over artist, and script writer. She is a graduate in Science with Chemistry honours and has done BEd and NTT. She has written books like Gulmohar, Kavya Sarita, Udaan, Chhutata Sira, and Dukhti Rag-A Kahani Sangrah, all focused on the various dimensions of women issues. Sarika is also engaged with philanthropic activities. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, Sarika accentuates how the optics of women empowerment in Indian society is just a façade and the reality is far from the truth.

#1. What’s the status of women in society?

Women are the most neglected section of Indian society. The buzzes created in media about the women emancipation is half-truth. We are just glorifying women empowerment disproportionately. In fact, you can observe the most empowered women in our society have many constraints to deliver the best. All my books and articles are focused on this issue. I want to unfold the truth and put the real picture of women and how they can be really empowered and what we must do as a society in empowering them in real sense so that they can take decisions independently.

#2. Do you think technology is an enabler for you as a women writer?

Technology has played a significant role in helping women writers like me. Today, we are least dependent on male folk for any kind of support in executing our projects. Various communication technologies and platforms have enabled us to express our honest views without any fear. I would say technology is a bigger supporting agent in pursuing our profession and fulfilling the dreams.

#3. Are women leveraging their full potential in society?

No. That’s the straight answer. There are many reasons why women are not leveraging their full potential. In our society, women are the real multi-tasking professionals, and they can do several dissimilar jobs with great finesse. But family constraints and societal restrictions are putting roadblocks on their independence. We need to put facts straight. If we are so interested in women empowerment, then we must set them free from the so-called norms that only stifle the voice of women, not of men.

#4. What changes do you want to see in society to make women an equal partner of growth?

I want to see lot of changes in our society to champion the causes of women. First, we must let them free from the false societal norms. Women are equal in capability in comparison to men. Second, women should have the freedom to choose their vocation or profession based on their inclination, not based on the whims and facies of family and society. Third, women should be empowered to say NO to anything that’s disgraceful for their image. Fourth, women should be treated equally in all parameters that serve the men as well.

27/10/2021

STRENGTHENING RURAL ECONOMY THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTICIPATION

Ankita Kumawat is an entrepreneur/co-owner of Matratva/Goratan Dairy and Organic Farm. An alumnus of IIM-Kolkaka, Ankita left the corporate job to start Matratva Dairy in 2014 in Rajasthan's Ajmer district. She works towards a mission to provide a common platform for implementing leadership-oriented innovative and skilful programs extended towards associating the farm families, dairy businesses, and the other associated organizations for thriving towards a profitable and health-oriented future. She spearheads the dairy business and strives towards making the organic and dairy products reachable to the common man country wide. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, Ankita underlines how Matratva Dairy is playing a pivotal role in integrating the marginalised farmers to leverage the potential of value-based agricultural ecosystem and improve their earning capability.

#1. What prompted you shift from a cushy corporate job to launch Matratva Dairy?

When I was visiting home, I used to support my father who has been running a dairy farm for more than two decades. My interest for dairy farming grew from there and I started Matratva Dairy in 2014. Then we started organic farming by collaborating with local farmers. In addition to dairy and organic farming, we started food processing of organic products.

#2. What products does Matratva Dairy produce?

Matratva produces ghee, butter, sweets, buttermilk, and other products under the brand A2 by milk from indigenous cow breeds of our dairy. We use traditional methods to create these products. Our key objective was to develop and promote indigenous cow breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Tharaparkar, and Rathi. Besides milk products, we also produce honey and namkeen like chivda, soft gathiya, channa jor garam, bhujia, sev, and masala peanuts. We source the raw materials from organic farms by working with 48 marginal farmers. These farmers are trained to grow cereals in organic way.

#3. Where do you sell your products?

Our products are sold locally and at pan-India scale through market network. A2 products are available at retail outlets in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai, Kerala, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. We are also leveraging e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart to sell our products.

#4. How is your expansion plan?

I am planning to expand the reach of our business geographically beyond India. We are in process in getting the export license of our products. Moreover, we also want to move up the value chain organic food processing by expanding our sourcing network and providing support to marginalised farmers to get associate with our brand improve their earning.

26/10/2021

INTERCROPPING CAN BOOST FARMERS’ INCOME

Abhay Pratap, a farmer from Alaypur, Samasabad Nagar Panchayat in the district of Farukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, has brought in paradigm shift in intercropping while growing papaya along with other vegetables like potato, carrot, radish, yam & turnip and flowers like marigold, tuberose & gladioli. He started commercial farming of papaya in 2009 in a land of 6 acres. In an exclusive interview with 1stperson, Abhay unfolds how inter-cropping can provide multiple benefits to farmers in raising multiple crops and significantly enhancing yield and boosting profitability.

#1. What did trigger you to venture into intercropping?

In a populous country like India, feeding a billion-plus people is the most difficult challenge. While population is growing exponentially, the agricultural land is shrinking faster. What’s important now for the farmers to shift from the traditional farming to intercropping to grow multiple crops simultaneously. When I started papaya farming in 2009, I thought why we can’t grow other root-based vegetables along with papaya, as the plantation of papaya needs a specific distance between plants. Keeping the options open for experimentation, I started raising yam, potato & turnip along with papaya. I am also growing flowering plants like marigold, tuberose & gladioli to further enhance farm output.

#2. What’s the speciality of the variety of papaya you are growing?

I have created a new variety of papaya called D1, which can produce 40-100 kg per plant. The price of seed is 12-15 times less than the market price. Moreover, this variety has disease resistance properties. I am selling 100 gm papaya seeds for Rs. 2,500 to farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Haryana. Farmers can gain Rs. 3 lakh profit per acre in a single season.

#3. What are the other economic benefits of papaya?

Papaya has several economic benefits. Apart from its market value as a vegetable & fruit, papaya can be a base material for manufacturing cherry, pickles & sweets. Farmers can gain significantly when they move up the value chain of papaya processing.

#4. What’s your advice to the farmers for practicing intercropping?

I would urge farmers to go for intercropping to grow multiple vegetables and flowers to increase their productivity and gain more profits from a specific land. As agricultural technologies are advancing, it’s an exciting period for farmers to shift from conventional farming to modern farming by leveraging the benefits of intercropping. I am sure through intercropping farmers can double their income easily without investing much.

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