1. Uttar Pradesh ranks first across the country in the Amrit Sarovar scheme
Tags: National Government Schemes
According to the official website of Mission Amrit Sarovar, Uttar Pradesh ranks first across the country in the Amrit Sarovar scheme launched by the Government of India for the purpose of water conservation and harvesting.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Madhya Pradesh is in second place and Jammu and Kashmir in third place.
Under this dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, started in the year of Independence Amrit Mahotsav, 15415 Amrit Sarovars were selected to be developed in Uttar Pradesh.
Of these, the construction of 8343 lakes has been completed.
In view of the importance of the scheme, a target of development of at least two Amrit Sarovars (about 1.20 lakhs) per Gram Panchayat was fixed in all the more than 58 thousand Gram Panchayats of Uttar Pradesh.
Under the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, it was decided to hoist the flag on Independence Day this year while developing 7500 Amrit Sarovars. In relation to this, flag hoisting was done near 8288 Amrit Sarovars in the state.
Amrit Sarovar Mission :
The Amrit Sarovar Mission was launched on 24 April 2022 with the aim of water conservation.
The objective of the mission is to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies in each district of the country as part of the celebration of Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi.
The Ministries Involved :
The mission has been launched with a holistic government approach with 6 Ministries/Departments -
1. Rural Development Department
2. land resources department
3. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation
4. Department of Water Resources
5. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
6. Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Technical Partner :
Bhaskaracharya National Institute of Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) has been appointed as the technical partner for the mission.
Target :
Mission Amrit Sarovar is to be completed by 15 August 2023.
About 50,000 Amrit Sarovars are to be built in the country.
Each of these Amrit Sarovar will be in an area of 1 acre with a water holding capacity of 10,000 cubic metres.
2. Govt launches 2nd phase of Grameen Udyami Project
Tags: Government Schemes National News
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in partnership with Seva Bharti and Yuva Vikas Society on 20 August launched the second phase of Grameen Udyami Project to augment skill training in tribal communities for their inclusive and sustainable growth.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The second phase of the pilot project was launched in Ranchi.
The Central Government has sanctioned a budget of 85 thousand crore rupees exclusively for tribal areas.
The initiative aims to provide multi-skilled and functional skills to the youth of India to enable their livelihood.
The Prime Minister has emphasised on inclusion of tribal communities in the workforce, ensuring their holistic development so as to make them self-reliant and integrated into their respective geographical areas.
Grameen Udyami Project :
It has been implemented under the Parliamentary Package Scheme.
It is a unique multi-skill project, funded by NSDC, which aims to train 450 tribal students in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
The project is being implemented in six states- Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
Minister of State Rajiv Chandrashekhar and tribal MPs embodied this concept.
In the first phase of training, candidates from rural and tribal areas of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat were included.
The training under the project :
Electrician & Solar PV Installation Technician
Plumbing & Masonry
2-Wheeler Repair & Maintenance
IT/ITES with e-Governance
Farm Mechanisation
Objectives of the project :
Increase in Rural/Local Economy
Enhance employment opportunities
Reduce forced migration due to lack of local opportunities
Conservation of natural resources
3. Over one lakh villages across the country turned ODF plus
Tags: National Government Schemes
According to Jal Shakti Ministry Over one lakh villages have declared themselves as open defecation-free (ODF) Plus.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- These villages maintain their ODF status and have systems in place for solid and liquid waste management.
They are also working towards making their villages clean, green and healthy.
The Swachh Bharat Mission reinforces the government's commitment to promoting rural sanitation and improving the quality of life of its citizens.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the Swachh Bharat Mission with the aim of making the country open defecation free.
Rural India has become open defecation free 11 years ahead of the SDG-6 target set by the United Nations.
The top five performing states :
These states are Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.
In these states the maximum number of villages have been declared as ODF Plus.
What are ODF Plus Villages ?
'Open Defecation Free' (ODF) is a term used to describe communities that are using toilets instead of open defecation.
A village that maintains Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean is called "ODF Plus Village".
Toilet facilities should be ensured in all households, primary schools, panchayat houses and Anganwadi centers in these villages.
At least 80% of households should manage their solid and liquid waste effectively and have minimum litter and minimum stagnant water.
ODF Plus villages have been divided into three categories -Aspiring, Rising and Model.
About the Swachh Bharat Mission :
Launched - on 2nd October 2014
Launched by - Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Aims - to achieve the vision of a ‘Clean India’ by 2nd October 2019.
Slogan - One step towards cleanliness
It is a restructured version of the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan launched in 2009.
The first phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission lasted till October 2019.
Phase 2 is being implemented between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
4. Goa is the first Har Ghar Jal State in the country and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu the first Union Territory
Tags: National Government Schemes
According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Goa has become the first 'Har Ghar Jal' certified state in the country, where now all households have access to clean water through taps.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The people of all the villages in both these states and union territories have declared their village as 'Har Ghar Jal' through a resolution passed by the Gram Sabha and certified that safe drinking water is provided to all the households in the villages through taps.
The ministry said potable water is available through tap connections to all 2.63 lakh rural households in Goa and 85,156 households in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
All two lakh 63 thousand rural households of Goa and more than 85 thousand families of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu are now getting clean and safe drinking water through taps.
First 'Har Ghar Jal' certified district in the country :
Last month, the ministry had informed that Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh has become the first 'Har Ghar Jal' certified district in the country.
Till then, Burhanpur was the only district in the country where people from each of the 254 villages had declared their villages as 'Har Ghar Jal' through a resolution passed by the Gram Sabha.
Jal Jeevan Mission :
It is a flagship programme of the Government of India which was announced from the ramparts of Red Fort by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2019.
The objective of the mission is to supply potable tap water in adequate quantity, prescribed quality and on a regular and long-term basis to every rural household of the country by 2024.
It is implemented by the Government of India in partnership with the States/Union Territories.
This mission comes under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Funding Pattern :
The fund sharing pattern between the Center and the states under the mission is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern states and 50:50 for other states.
In the case of Union Territories, 100% contribution is made by the Centre.
5. Cabinet approves interest subvention of 1.5% per annum on Short Term Agriculture Loan upto Rs 3 lakh
Tags: National Government Schemes Economics/Business
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved restoration of interest subvention on short-term agricultural loans to 1.5 percent for all financial institutions.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This decision has been taken to ensure adequate credit flow to the agriculture sector.
Against short term loans of up to Rs 3 lakh given to farmers for the financial years 2022-23 to 2024-25 to lending institutions (public and private sector banks, small finance banks, regional rural banks, co-operative banks) 1.5 percent interest subvention will be given.
Under this, an additional budgetary provision of Rs 34,856 crore would be required for the period from 2022-23 to 2024-25 for increasing the interest subvention.
Background :
Ensuring uninterrupted credit to farmers at affordable rates has been the top priority of the Government of India.
Keeping this in mind, the Kisan Credit Card scheme was launched for the farmers, to empower them to buy agricultural products and services by taking loans at any time.
To ensure that farmers can pay the minimum rate of interest to the bank, the Government of India launched the Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS), which has now been renamed as the Revised Interest Subvention Scheme (RISS).
Its objective is to provide short term loans to farmers at low interest rates.
Benefit to farmers :
The increase in interest subvention will help in ensuring stability of credit flow to the agriculture sector.
This will ensure the financial position and viability of the lending institutions especially the Regional Rural Banks and Co-operative Banks.
This will ensure adequate agricultural credit to the rural economy.
More and more farmers will get the benefit of agriculture loan.
This will help in employment generation, as short term agricultural loans are provided for all activities including animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, fisheries.
Kisan Credit Card Scheme :
It provides loans to farmers all over India so that farmers can reduce the financial crunch during farming.
It was introduced in 1998 by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development on the recommendation of R V Gupta.
In 2004, it was extended for investment in non-farm activities keeping in view the credit requirement of farmers.
In Budget-2018-19, the government announced the extension of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers.
6. Taxpayers will no longer be part of Atal Pension Yojana
Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes
According to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Finance Any citizen who is or has been an income-tax payer, shall not be eligible to join Atal Pension Yojana (APY). The rule will come into effect on October 1, 2022.
Important facts
As per notification those who are already participating in the scheme will cease to be a part of it from October 1. However, they will receive the money deposited in their respective accounts.
If a subscriber, who has joined on or after October 1, 2022, is later found to be an income tax payer on or before the date of application, the APY account will be closed and the pension amount accumulated till now will be given to the subscriber
Income tax payer is a person who is liable to pay income tax as per the Income Tax Act, 1961 as amended from time to time.
About Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
Launched - 2015
Purpose
To provide social security to the people working in the unorganized sector as the people working in such sectors mainly belong to the low income group.
Eligibility
Any Indian citizen in the age group of 18-40 years having a savings bank account / post office savings bank account.
The minimum period of contribution by the subscriber under APY shall be 20 years or more.
It is administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
Pension under the APY
Under the scheme a subscriber receives a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per month from the age of 60 years, depending upon his contribution.
In the event of the death of the pensioner, the amount of pension will be given to his/her spouse.
In case of death of both the subscriber spouse, the pension amount deposited till the age of 60 years of the subscriber will be returned to the nominee.
7. Social Justice Ministry launches SMILE-75 initiative
Tags: Government Schemes
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the 'SMILE-75' initiative for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging in 75 municipalities on the occasion of 75th year of independence on 12th August.
About SMILE -75 Scheme
Full name of SMILE - Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise
The scheme is a sub-scheme under the 'Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons engaged in begging'.
This scheme also focuses on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities and intervention, counselling, education, skill development, economic linkages to transgender persons.
Under this, many comprehensive welfare measures have been included for the persons engaged in begging.
A total budget of Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the SMILE scheme for the period 2025-26 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Under the scheme, a target has been set to develop a support system for the holistic rehabilitation of the people engaged in begging.
Implementation of the Scheme
The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It will be implemented with the support of State/UT Governments/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community Based Organizations, institutions and others.
Status of begging in India
According to the 2011 census, the total number of beggars in India is 4,13,670 (including 2,21,673 males and 1,91,997 females).
West Bengal has the highest number of beggars, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at number two and third place respectively.
According to the 2011 census, there are only two beggars in Lakshadweep.
The Union Territory of New Delhi has the highest number of beggars, followed by Chandigarh.
Among the northeastern states, Assam tops the number of beggars, while Mizoram is at the bottom.
8. New Guidelines of ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0'
Tags: Government Schemes
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued operational guidelines regarding the implementation of 'Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0'.
About Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
The scheme was approved by the Government of India for implementation during the 15th Finance Commission period 202l-22 to 2025-26.
It is an Integrated Nutrition Support Programme.
It has been implemented to address the challenges of malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
The restructured scheme consists of ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) and National Creche Scheme.
What are the new Guidelines?
The scheme is open to all eligible beneficiaries.
The beneficiary has to be registered at the nearest Anganwadi centre with Aadhaar identification.
The beneficiaries for the scheme would be adolescent girls in the age group of 14-18 years.
AYUSH will propagate the campaigns of 'Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family'.
The Ministry of AYUSH will provide technical support for the scheme implementation.
Objectives of Poshan 2.0
Address challenges of malnutrition
Contribute to the development of human capital of the country
Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for better health
Addressing nutritional deficiencies through key strategies
9. Assam CM launches digital process of issuance of caste certificate for students
Tags: Government Schemes State News
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 1 launched 'Mission Bhumiputra', a digital way to issue digital caste certificates to students.
Important facts
The Chief Minister inaugurated the Bhumiputra Portal in a program organized at Shrimant Sankardev Kalakshetra.
This mission is being implemented by the Department of Tribal Affairs and Social Justice and Empowerment.
Now the manual system of issuing caste certificates will be abolished.
The Deputy Commissioner will give the format of applications for caste certificates to the headmasters of educational institutions from August 8.
The Headmaster will fill the application forms and send it to the Deputy Commissioners, after which the application will be forwarded to the respective caste or tribe boards.
Thereafter, the Deputy Commissioner will hold a meeting with the boards to decide on the protocol for issuance of caste certificates to the students.
If any doubts arise in the process, the application may be sent for further verification.
The certificates will be available in Digi Locker under the IT Act, digitally signed by the respective Deputy Commissioners.
With the launch of Mission Bhumiputra, the problems people faced earlier regarding securing documents will be solved.
10. Govt formulates NAMASTE scheme for cleaning of sewers, septic tank
Tags: National Government Schemes
Government has formulated a National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem- NAMASTE scheme for cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
What is the NAMASTE Scheme?
The scheme is a joint venture of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The Ministry has prepared a list of essential safety machinery and main equipment to be used by Safai Mitras.
This step has been taken by the government to end the practice of manual scavenging in India.
Manual scavenging is the practice of removing human feces by hand from a sewer or septic tank.
Aims of the scheme
Achieving zero mortality in sanitation works in India.
Preventing any sanitation worker from coming in direct contact with human faecal matter
Ensuring all sewer and septic tank sanitation workers have access to alternative livelihoods
