Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission

The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) is under implementation across the country. The Mission has progressed since the launch in 2016. Out of the mandated 300 clusters, 295 clusters have been identified and approved across 29 States and 6 Union Territories. SPMRM was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on February 21st, 2016 with an outlay of Rs. 5142.08 crore. This is a unique programme, designed to deliver catalytic interventions to rural areas on the threshold of growth. There is a funding support of up to 30% of the estimated investment for each Rurban cluster, given as Critical Gap Funding (CGF), while 70% of the funds is mobilized by the States through convergence with synergic State and Central programmes as well as private investment and institutional funding. Upon being re-classified as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the CGF is now shared between the Centre and the State in a ratio of 60:40 for Plain area States and 90:10 for Himalayan and NE States.

        Further, through intense engagements with the States, 232 Integrated Cluster Action Plans (ICAPs), which are the blue prints of investment for each cluster, have been approved. Rs1314 crore of Central Share of CGF, Rs. 627.91 crore as corresponding State Share and Rs. 103.25 crore of Administrative Funding, has been released to 29 States and 6 Union Territories over the last four financial years. In FY 2015-16, administrative funds of Rs.32.05 crore has been released. In FY 2016-17, the BE of Rs. 300 crore was doubled at the RE stage to reach 100% expenditure, with a total release of Rs. 600 crore. In FY 2017-18, Rs. 553.26 crore was released to States/UTs against the revised estimate of Rs. 600 crore. In the current FY 2018-19, 236.90crore has been released till date, against a revised estimate (RE) of Rs. 551.03 crore.

            Substantial part of the works identified for development in the clusters is focused on provision of basic and economic amenities. Provision of basic amenities in a cluster typically comprise; provision of 24/7 Water Supply to all households, Solid and Liquid Waste Management facilities at the household and cluster level, provision of Inter and Intra village roads within the cluster, adequate Street Lights and Public Transport facilities using green technologies. Provision of Economic Amenities in a cluster comprise various thematic areas in the sectors of Agri Services and Processing, Tourism, and Skill development to promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

Welfare Schemes for Rural Masses

The Government organized “Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (GSA)” from 14th April to 05th May, 2018 and also extended the campaign to villages having population of more than 1,000 in 117 Aspiration Districts from 1stJune 2018 to 15th August 2018.

The campaign, undertaken under the name of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Gaon, Sabka Vikas”, was to promote social harmony, spread awareness about pro-poor initiatives of the government and reach out to poor households to enroll them as also to obtain their feedback on various welfare programmes. As a special endeavor during the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, saturation of eligible households/persons was envisaged under seven flagship pro-poor programmes, namely, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Saubhagya, Ujala scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Mission Indradhanush. During GSA, farmers meeting was also organized at block level in rural areas of the country with the aim of “Doubling the farmers’ income till 2022”.

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) aims for integrated development of selected villages having more than 50% Scheduled Caste (SC) population through implementation of existing scheme of Central and State Governments in a convergent manner and by utilization of gap filling funds provided as Central Assistance. The scheme was launched in 2009-10 on a pilot basis, for the integrated development of 1000 villages in 5 States viz. Himachal Pradesh (Northern Region), Bihar (Eastern Region), Rajasthan (Western Region), Tamil Nadu (Southern Region) and Assam (North-Eastern Region) and further extended in 2015 to another 1500 villages in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Haryana. Works and programmes taken up under PMAGY in the identified States include inter alia, construction of village roads, community halls/meeting places, community toilets, drainage works, installation of hand pumps, solar powered street lights, drinking water scheme etc.

As per scheme, details for a village to be declared as Adarsh village a minimum of three of the targets listed below have to be achieved by the end of the third year of implementation of PMAGY:-

·           As far as possible, elimination of poverty, but reduction in its incidence by at least 50% within three years.

·           Universal adult literacy

·           100% enrolment and retention of children at the elementary stage (I-VIII).

·           Reduction of infant mortality rate (per thousand live births) to 30 and maternal mortality rate (per lakh) to 100, by 2012. 

·           Village should fulfill the Nirmal Gram Puraskar norms of the Deptt. Of Drinking Water Supply, M/o Rural Development, ie, these villages should be 100 % open defecation free

·           Access to safe drinking water facility to all villagers on a sustainable basis.

·           100% institutional deliveries for pregnant women

·           Full immunisation of children

·           Achieving all weather road connectivity to the village

·           100% registration of deaths and births in the village

·           No child marriages, and child labour

·           No public consumption of liquor and other intoxicating substances

·           100% allotment of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY) houses to all eligible families

Top Scheme And Programme Launched By Narendra Modi Government

SN	Govt Scheme	Details
1	Make in India	It was Launched on 25th September 2014 To make India a manufacturing hub. Make in India is an initiative of the Government of India to encourage multinational, as well as domestic, companies to manufacture their products in India. The major objective behind the initiative is to focus on job creation and skill enhancement in twenty-five sectors of the economy
2	Digital India	Launched on 1st July 2015 To transform India’s economy Digital India has three core components. These include: The creation of digital infrastructure Delivering services digitally Digital literacy
3	Skill India	Launched on 15th July 2015) To create jobs for youth of the Country Skill Development in Youth Making Skill available to All Youth of India
4	Smart Cities	Launched on 29th April 2015 In first Government of india Will Develop 100 Smart cities in India Under this Scheme Cities from all States Are Selected
5	Unearthen Black Money	Bill Passed on 14th May 2015 Disclosing Black Money Punishment for The Black Money holders
6	Namami Gange	Namami Gange Project or Namami Ganga Yojana is an ambitious Union Government Project which integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner. It its maiden budget, the government announced Rs. 2037 Crore towards this mission. The project is officially known as Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission project or ‘Namami Ganga Yojana’. This project aims at Ganga Rejuvenation by combining the existing ongoing efforts and planning under it to create a concrete action plan for future.
7	Swachh Bharat Abhiyan	Launched on 2nd October 2014) To have clean India by 2nd October 2019 Eliminate open defecation by constructing toilets for households, communities Eradicate manual scavenging Introduce modern and scientific municipal solid waste management practices Enable private sector participation in the sanitation sector Change people’s attitudes to sanitation and create awareness
8	Swadesh Darshan	Integrated Development of Theme Based Buddhist tourist circuit
9	Sukanya Samridhi Account	Launched on 22nd January 2015 The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 January 2015 as a part of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign. The scheme currently provides an interest rate of 9.2% and tax benefits. The account can be opened at any India Post office or a branch of some authorised commercial banks
10	Bal swachh mission	Launched on 14th November 2014) Awareness about the cleanliness of the children
11	Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana	Launched on 28th August 2014 ) To give financial services to weaker section of society.
12	Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana	Launched on 9th May 2015 Eligibility: Available to people in age group 18 to 70 years with bank account. Premium:  Rs.12 per annum. Payment Mode: The premium will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account. This is the only mode available. Risk Coverage:  For accidental death and full disability – Rs.2 Lakh and for partial disability – Rs.1 Lakh. Eligibility: Any person having a bank account and Aadhaar number linked to the bank account can give a simple form to the bank every year before 1st of June in order to join the scheme.  Name of nominee to be given in the form.
13	Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana	(Launched on 22nd January 2015)-To generate awareness of welfare service meants for girl child and women.
14	Atal Pension Scheme	(Launched on 9th May 2015)-for unorganised sector ‘s workers
15	HRIDAY (National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) scheme	(Launched on 21st January 2015)-To develop heritage cities.
16	Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana	(Launched on 9th May 2015)-Life insurance scheme by Government
17	MUDRA Bank Yojana	(Launched on 8th April 2015) to provide up to 10 lakh to small entrepreneur.
18	Krishi Amani Bima Yojana	Scheme for farmer
19	Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchai Yojana	To provide water to all field in the Country.
20	Pradhan Mantri Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana	(Launched on 11th October 2014)-Each MP to develop three villages by 2019.
21	Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana	(Launched on 25th September 2014)- To provide employmentto youth residing in rural area.
22	Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana	To provide power(electricity) to rural area of the country.
23	Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana	Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana is a special social security scheme which includes Pension and Life Insurance, introduced by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs for the overseas Indian workers in possession of Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports. It is a voluntary scheme designed to help workers to meet their three financial needs: saving for retirement, saving for their return and resettlement, and providing free life insurance offering coverage for death from natural causes.
24	Indradanush Scheme	(Launched on 25th December 2014)
25	Soil Health Card Scheme	Soil Health Card Scheme is a scheme launched by the Government of India in February 2015. Under the scheme, the government plans to issue soil cards to farmers which will carry crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilisers required for the individual farms to help farmers to improve productivity through judicious use of inputs. All soil samples are to be tested in various soil testing labs across the country. Thereafter the experts will analyse the strength and weaknesses (micro-nutrients deficiency) of the soil and suggest measures to deal with it. The result and suggestion will be displayed in the cards. The government plans to issue the cards to 14 crore farmers
26	Rani Laxmi Bai Pension scheme	For victims of Muzazafar nagar riot.
27	Udaan Scheme	To provide skill to youth of India.
28	Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission	The Mission aims at development of rural growth clusters which have latent potential for growth, in all States and UTs, which would trigger overall development in the region. These clusters would be developed by provisioning of economic activities, developing skills & local entrepreneurship and providing infrastructure amenities. The Rurban Mission will thus develop a cluster of Smart Villages.
29	Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram	(Launched on 16th October 2014)
30	Kisan Vikas Patra	(Relaunched in 2014) – Saving certificate Scheme
31	AMRUT	Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Development (earlier name JNNURM)
32	PRASAD	Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation-To improve the infrastructure at pilgrimage places.
33	Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana	The Union Cabinet has approved Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana It is a new crop insurance scheme to boost farming sector in the country. It is farmers’ welfare scheme The Scheme aims to reduce the premium burden on farmers and ensure early settlement of crop Insurance claim for the full insured sum.We Will cover this Scheme In details in Separate Article

UDAY—Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojna

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to a new scheme moved by the Ministry of Power – Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojna or UDAY—for the financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies (DISCOMs), as also to ensure a sustainable permanent solution to the problem. The weakest link in the power value chain is distribution, wherein DISCOMs have, as on 31 March 2015, accumulated losses of approximately Rs.3.8 lakh crore and outstanding debt of approximately Rs.4.3 lakh crore. Financially stressed DISCOMs are finding it difficult to supply adequate power at affordable rates, which is hampering quality of life and overall economic growth and development.

UDAY looks to assure the rise of vibrant and efficient DISCOMs through a permanent resolution of past as well as potential future issues of the sector. It will empower DISCOMs with the opportunity to break even in the next 2-3 years through four initiatives (i) Improving operational efficiencies of DISCOMs; (ii) Reduction of cost of power; (iii) Reduction in interest cost of DISCOMs; (iv) Enforcing financial discipline on DISCOMs through alignment with State finances. UDAY is a good example of the utilization of the best principles of cooperative and competitive federalism. Adopting UDAY is optional for States, but provides the fastest, most efficient and financially most feasible way for providing 24X7 Power for All. It will be operationalised through a tripartite agreement amongst the Ministry of Power, State Government and the DISCOM.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

The Census(2011) data showed a significant declining trend in the Child Sex Ratio (CSR)
at an all time low of 918. The sharp decline pointed out by this data called for urgent action to save the girl child. Towards this end, the government announced Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme to address the issue of decline in CSR through a mass campaign across the country and focussed intervention and multi-sectoral action in 100 gender critical districts. 100 districts have been identified on the basis of low child sex ratio as per Census 2011 covering all states/UTs as a pilot project with at least one district in each state. The three criteria for selection of districts are a) districts below the national average(87 districts in 23 states); b) districts above national average but showing declining trend(8 districts in 8 states) and c) districts above national average and showing increasing trend(5 districts in 5 states) so selected, so that these CSR levels can be maintained and other districts can emulate and learn from their experiences.

A budgetary allocation of Rs 100 cr has been made under the budget announcement for the campaign and Rs 100 cr is to be mobilised from Plan outlay of the planned scheme 'Care and protection of girl child - a multi-sectoral action plan' for the 12th plan. Additional resources could be mobilised through corporate social responsibility at national and state levels. The estimated cost of the scheme is Rs 200 cr, out of which Rs 115 cr is proposed to be released during the current year i.e. 2014-15 (for six months); Rs 45 cr and Rs 40 cr will be released during 2015-16 and 2016-2017 respectively.

•  The overall goal of the scheme is to celebrate the girl child and enable her education. The objectives are to prevent gender biased sex selective elimination and ensure survival, protection and education of the girl child.
•  Eight monitorable targets for this programme have been identified, namely, improving the SRB in 100 gender critical districts by 10 points in a year;
•  Reducing gender differentials in under-five child mortality rate from 8 points in 2011 to 4 points in 2017;
•  Improving the nutrition status of girls by reducing number of underweight and anaemic girls under 5 years of age (from NFHS 3 levels);
•  Ensuring universalisation of ICDS, girls' attendance and equal care monitored using joint ICDS-NRHM Mother Child Protection Cards;
•  Increasing girls' enrollment in secondary education from 76 per cent in 2013-14 to 79 per cent by 2017;
•  Provision of girls' toilets in every school in 100 CSR districts by 2017;
•  Promoting a protective environment for Girl children through implementation of Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act 2012 and;
•  Training elected representatives/grassroots functionaries as community champions to mobilise the communities to improve CSR and promote girls' education. The strategies worked out to achieve these targets included-
•  Implementation of a sustained social mobilisation and communication campaign to create equal value for the girl child and promote her education;
•  Placing of the issue of decline in CSR/SRB in public discourse as part of good governance;
•  Focussing on gender critical districts and cities low on CSR for intensive and integrated action;
•  Mobilising and training panchayati raj institutions/urban local bodies/grassroots workers as catalysts for social change, in partnership with local community/women's/youth groups;
•  Ensuring that service delivery structures/schemes and programmes are sufficiently responsive to issues of gender and children's rights and lastly;
•  Enabling inter-sectoral and inter-institutional convergence at district/block/grassroots levels.

The two major components to achieve the targets of the programme are mass communication campaign on the programme through interlinked national, state and district level interventions with community level action in 100 districts, bringing together different stakeholders for accelerated impact. Multi-sectoral action, drawn up in consultation with MoHFW & MoHRD, would include measurable outcomes and indicators through concerned sectors, states and districts. The states/UTs would adapt a flexible framework for multisectoral action through the state task forces for developing, implementing and monitoring state/district plans of action to achieve their respective specific monitorable targets.

One of the prongs for the success of this programme was advocacy, community mobilisation and
awareness generation. The scheme proposal suggests that community mobilisation could be done through interactive initiatives like Nari ki Chaupal, Beti Janmahotsav, Mann ki Baat etc. A dedicated day could be scheduled every month for celebration of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. National Girl Child day could be celebrated on 24th January every year by all stakeholders including local opinion makers, PRI members, MLAs, MPs etc at district levels led by the district administration of the 100 gender critical districts. International Women's Day could be celebrated to send out a strong message highlighting the importance of gender equality and need of empowering women and girls. Further, celebration of this Day can be used to highlight the contribution of empowered mothers for the BBBP scheme. A pledge for protection, safety, value and education of the girl child may be adopted by the government of India and it may be taken on the occasion of National Girl Child Day.

PAHAL SCHEME

PAHAL stands for Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh which is a Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) scheme, launched by the Centre on 1st January, 2015 with the aim to benefit the LPG consumers. Under this scheme, LPG cylinders will be sold to Cash Transfer Compliant (CTC) consumers at the market determined price, while the cash subsidy will be directly transferred to the bank account of the beneficiary by the following methods:
1. Primary: Consumers having Aadhar number have to get it linked with bank account so as to get the subsidy directly in their bank accounts.
2. Secondary: Consumers lacking Aadhar number will get subsidy in their account after submitting their relevant bank account details to the LPG distributor (A/C No., Name of A/C holder, IFSC code etc).
Consumers who are receiving subsidy directly in their bank accounts are called Cash Transfer Compliant (CTC) Consumers. For the non-CTC Consumers, however, a grace period of three months (with an additional parking period of three months) is allowed to become CTC consumer. But during this period, the non- CTC consumers will be given LPG cylinders at the market determined prices.
A one- time advance is provided to every CTC Consumer joining PAHAL. The advance is notified by the Government from time to time and remains fixed during that financial year. The advance will remain with the consumers till the time of termination of their connection.
The modified scheme had been re launched initially in 54 districts of the country in the first phase and in other parts of the country on 1st January 2015.

Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana

Centre has launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) for the welfare of Tribals. The scheme been launched on pilot basis in one block each of the States of AP, MP, HP, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Under this scheme centre has provided Rs. 10 crore for each block for development of various facilities for the Tribals. These blocks have been selected on the recommendations of the concerned States and have very low literacy rate. The scheme mainly focuses on bridging infrastructural gaps and gaps in human development indices between Schedule tribes and other social groups. VKY also envisages to focus on convergence of different schemes of development of the centre and State Governments with an outcome oriented approach. Initially the blocks having at least 33 per cent tribal population in comparison to total population of the block are to be targeted.

National AYUSH Mission

The Government has launched the National AYUSH Mission with the objectives to promote AYUSH medical systems through cost effective AYUSH services, strengthening of educational systems, to facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU &H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU & H raw-materials.
The Mission has been launched(NAM) with an aim to address the gaps in health services through supporting the efforts of State/UT Governments for providing AYUSH health services/education in the country, particularly in vulnerable and far-flung areas. Under NAM special focus will be given for specific needs of such areas and for allocation of higher resources in their Annual Plans. The mission also has provision for 20 per cent of financial resources for flexible components to be proposed by the State/UT Governments.
This Mission will help in the improvement of AYUSH education through enhancement in the number of upgraded educational institutions ,in providing better access to AYUSH services through increase in number of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, availability of drugs and manpower , providing sustained availability of quality raw material for AYUSH systems of medicine, supporting cultivation of medicinal plants by adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) so as to provide sustained supply of quality raw-materials and support certification mechanism for quality standards, improving availability of quality of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy (ASU&H) drugs through increase in number of pharmacies, drug laboratories and improved enforcement mechanism of ASU&H drugs.
The Mission at National level will be governed by a National AYUSH Mission Directorate headed by secretary as Chairman and at State level Mission will be governed and executed by a State AYUSH Mission Society headed by chief Secretary acting as Chairperson.

Mission Indradhanush

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has launched Mission Indradhanush on 25th December 2014 with the aim of expanding immunization coverage to all children across India by year 2020. The Mission Indradhanush, depicting seven colours of the rainbow, targets to immunize all children against seven vaccine preventable diseases namely Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Childhood Tuberculosis, Polio, Hepatitis B and Measles. In addition to this, vaccines for JE (Japanese Encephalitis) and Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B) are also being provided in selected states.  Immunization is the key to protect children from life threatening conditions that are preventable. As per MOHFW, immunization coverage in India has increased from 61% to 65% only from 2009-2013. So, MOHFW has decided to intensify its efforts in immunization though this mission.      

 

Objectives of Mission Indradhanush

The government intends to cover 201 high focus districts in the first phase of year 2015.  These districts have nearly 50% of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children. Out of these 201 districts, 82 districts lie in just four states of India namely, UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Nearly 25% of the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children of India live in these 82 districts of 4 states. Furthermore, another 297 districts will be targeted in the second phase of year 2015.

 

Strategy of Mission Indradhanush
The government has planned to conduct four special vaccination campaigns between January and June 2015.  All vaccines are already available free of cost under universal immunisation programme in India. Under this mission, government plans to intensify its efforts and thus increase accessibility of these vaccines to all the children of India. 

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with an outlay of Rs.1500 crore. 

This will be the flagship scheme for skill training of youth to be implemented by the new Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). The scheme will cover 24 lakh persons. Skill training would be done based on the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and industry led standards. Under the scheme, a monetary reward is given to trainees on assessment and certification by third party assessment bodies. The average monetary reward would be around Rs.8000 per trainee. 

Out of the total outlay of Rs.1120 crore to be spent on skill training of 14 lakh youth, special emphasis has been given to recognition of prior learning for which an amount of Rs.220 crore has been provided. Awareness building and mobilization efforts would be focused for attention, for which Rs.67 crore has been provided. Mobilization would be done through skill melas organized at the local level with participation of the State Governments, Municipal Bodies, Pachayati Rai Institutions and community based organizations. The focus under the scheme is also on mentorship support and placement facilitation for which an outlay of Rs.67 crore has been provided. An allocation of Rs.150 crores has been made for training of youth from the North-East region. 

Highlights of skill training would be that it would be done on the basis of demand assessed on the basis of recent skill gap studies conducted by the NSDC for the period 2013-17. For assessment of demand of Central Ministries/Departments/State Governments, industry and business would be consulted. A demand aggregator platform would be launched for the purpose very soon. The target for skilling would be aligned to demand from other flagship programmes launched in recent times such as Make in India, Digital India, National Solar Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Skill training under the new scheme will primarily be focused on a first time entrants to the labour market and primarily target Class 10 and Class 12 drop outs. 

The scheme would be implemented through NSDC training partners. Currently NSDC has 187 training partners that have over 2300 centres. In addition, Central / State Government affiliated training providers would also be used for training under the scheme. All training providers will have to undergo a due diligence before being eligible for participating under this scheme. Focus under the PMKVY would be on improved curricula, better pedagogy and better trained instructors. Training would include soft skills, personal grooming, behavioral change for cleanliness, good work ethics. Sector Skill Councils and the State Governments would closely monitor skill training that will happen under PMKVY. 

Skill Development Management System (SDMS) would be put in place to verify and record details of all training centres a certain quality of training locations and courses. Biometric system and video recording of the training process would be put in place where feasible. All persons undergoing training would be required to give feed back at the time of assessment and this would become the key element of the evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of the PMKVY scheme. A robust grievance redressal system would be put in place to address grievances relating to implementation of the scheme. An online citizen portal would be put in place to disseminate information about the scheme. 

Union Government launched Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana

Union government on 25 September 2014 launched Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana. The Yojana was launched by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Rural Development during the National Convention on Skills for Rural and Urban Poor held in New Delhi.

The Yojana was launched during the 98th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. Earlier the Yojana was known as Aajeevika Skills Development Programme (ASDP).

Main Highlights of the Yojana

• The Yojana aims at training 10 lakh (1 million) rural youths for jobs in three years, that is, by 2017.
• The minimum age for entry under the Yojana is 15 years compared to 18 years under the Aajeevika Skills Programme.
• Skill development training centres to be launched so as to address the unemployment problem in the rural area.
• The skills imparted under the Yojana will now be benchmarked against international standards and will complement the Prime Minister’s Make In India campaign.
• The Kaushalya Yojana will also the address the need for imparting training to the differently-able persons and chip in private players including international players to impart the skills to the rural youths.

The Rationale for launching the Yojana

The Yojana was launched in the light of huge problem of unemployment among the rural youths despite the fact that they have merits. In order to correct this match, Union government decided to launch skill development scheme.

Further, in light of the fact that, by 2020 developed countries will have a shortfall of over 57 million semi-skilled workers while India by 2020 will have 47 million surplus of workers. This effectively means that there will be high demand for skilled manpower in developed countries, where Indian rural youth can be absorbed after they acquire industry-specific training.

Status of Skilled workers in India

In India as against 12 million people entering the workforce every year during the last 10 years only 1 million youths were trained. Further out of 12 million people, only 10 percent were skilled ones, while the percentage in European Union is 75 and in China it is 50 percent. Also, as compared to 4500 skills in China, India only has 1600 skills, a huge gap indeed.

About the Aajeevika Skill Development Programme (ASDP)

Aajeevika Skills Development Programme (ASDP) was launched in June 2011 as a sub-mission under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). It was launched to cater to the occupational aspirations of the rural youth who are poor and to diversify incomes of the rural poor.

The ASDP aimed at skilling and placing 50 lakhs youth in the formal sector by 2017.

Union Government launched Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana for urban and rural poor

Union Government on 25 September 2014 launched Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana for urban and rural poor. The Yojana aims at alleviating urban and rural poverty through enhancement of livelihood opportunities through skill development and other means.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana has two components one for urban India and other for rural India. The Urban component will be implemented by the Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation while rural component named as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana will be implemented by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
Under the Yojana, the Union Ministry of Rural Development will launch skill development training centres on a large scale to address the problem of unemployment particularly in rural India.

Main Highlights of the Rural Scheme
• The Yojana aims at training 10 lakh (1 million) rural youths for jobs in three years, that is, by 2017.
• The minimum age for entry under the Yojana is 15 years compared to 18 years under the Aajeevika Skills Programme.
• Skill development training centres to be launched so as to address the unemployment problem in the rural area.
• The skills imparted under the Yojana will now be benchmarked against international standards and will complement the Prime Minister’s Make In India campaign.
• The Kaushalya Yojana will also the address the need for imparting training to the differently-able persons and chip in private players including international players to impart the skills to the rural youths.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana for urban areas
Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana (DAY) for urban areas extends the coverage to all the 4041 statutory cities and towns, there by covering almost the entire urban population. Currently, all the urban poverty alleviating programmes covered only 790 towns and cities.

Main Highlights of the Urban Scheme 
The scheme will focus on 
• Imparting skills with an expenditure of 15000 rupees to 18000 rupees on each urban poor
• Promotion of self-employment through setting up individual micro-enterprises and group enterprises with interest subsidy for individual projects costing 2lakhs rupees and 10 lakhs rupees for group enterprises. Subsidized interest rate will be 7 percent.
• Training urban poor to meet the huge demand from urban citizens by imparting market oriented skills through City Livelihood Centres. Each Centre would be given a capital grant of 10 lakhs rupees.
• Enabling urban poor form Self-Help Groups for meeting financial and social needs with a support of 10000 rupees per each group who would in turn would be helped with bank linkages.
• Development of vendor markets besides promotion of skills of vendors 
• Construction of permanent shelters for urban homeless and provision of other essential services.

Union Cabinet approved Swachh Bharat Mission for Urban Areas

The Union Cabinet on 24 September 2014 approved Swachh Bharat Mission for Urban Areas. The mission will begin from 2 October 2014 and will be implemented over a period of five years.

The mission will be implemented in over 4041 statutory towns of the country and will cost around 62009 crore rupees of which 14623 crore rupees will be borne by the Union Government.

The Mission is the urban component of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and will be implemented by Union Ministry of Urban Development. The rural component of the Mission will be implemented by Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Main elements of the Mission

• The Mission includes elimination of open defecation, conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets, eradication of manual scavenging, Municipal Solid Waste Management.
• The Programme consists of components for providing (i) Individual household toilets; (ii) Community and public toilets; and (iii) Municipal Solid Waste Management in all 4041 statutory towns
• It would cover 1.04 crore households, provide 2.5 lakh seats of community toilets, 2.6 lakh seats of public toilets and solid waste management facility for all towns.

Aim of the Mission

• It aims towards bringing a behavioural change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices and generating awareness among citizens about sanitation and its linkages with public health.
• It also aims at strengthening of urban local bodies to design, execute and operate systems to fulfill these objectives and creating an enabling environment for private sector participation in capital expenditure and operational expenditure.

Background

The plan of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was mentioned in the Union Budget 2014-15 by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on 10 July 2014. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was proposed in the Union Budget under Drinking Water & Sanitation plan. As proposed, the Abhiyan will cover every household with sanitation facility by the year 2019

Schemes Launched by Union & State Governments

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seenchayi Yojana: 
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seenchayi Yojana was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi . The Yojna has been announced to meet the irrigation needs of all farmers across the country. Sum of 1000 crore rupees has been allocated for implementation of the scheme.

Padho Pardesh scheme for minority community: 
Government has launched a scheme titled, Padho Pardesh, for providing interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies for students belonging to the notified minority communities like Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis.
Note: The objective of the scheme is to award interest subsidy to meritorious students belonging to economically weaker sections of the notified minority communities so as to provide opportunities for higher education abroad and enhance their employability.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission:
Government has launched the Rashtriya Gokul Mission to promote conservation and development of indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner. The mission aims at enhancing milk production, upgrading non-descript cattle using elite indigenous breeds and distribute disease free high genetic bulls.

Govt re-launches Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana: 
The government has re-launched the Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana, for the benefit of citizens aged 60 years and above.
Note: It will provide monthly pension ranging from 500 to 5,000 rupees per month to senior citizens of the country. The Scheme will be administrated by the Life Insurance Corporation, LIC.