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Wednesday 24 May 2017

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Goal & Objectives of PMSMA

About Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

What is the program?
  • The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan has been launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. The program aims to provide assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care, free of cost, universally to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month.
  • Hon’ble Prime Minister highlighted the aim and purpose of introduction of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan in the 31st July 2016 episode of Mann Ki Baat.
  • PMSMA guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their 2nd / 3rd trimesters of pregnancy at designated government health facilities
  • The programme follows a systematic approach for engagement with private sector which includes motivating private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign developing strategies for generating awareness and appealing to the private sector to participate in the Abhiyan at government health facilities.
Rationale for the program:

Monday 22 May 2017

NITI Aayog announces launch of the schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana - for incentivising digital payment

Government of India has initiated numerous steps to combat the scourge of Corruption and Black Money in the last two and a half years. The Union cabinet had approved a slew of initiatives in February 2016 to encourage digital payments and a transition to less-cash economy in a strategic manner. The Prime Minister had highlighted these measures in his Man Ki Baat address in May 2016. He had urged people to adopt cashless transactions. 

Sunday 21 May 2017

National Service Scheme (NSS) and its objective motto structure and other work

The main objectives of National Service Scheme (NSS) are :

i. understand the community in which they work.

ii. understand themselves in relation to their community.

iii. identify the needs and problems of the community and involve them in problem-solving.

iv. develop among themselves a sense of social and civic responsibility.

v. utilise their knowledge in finding practical solutions to individual and community problems.

vi. develop competence required for group-living and sharing of responsibilities.

vii. gain skills in mobilising community participation.

viii. acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitudes.

ix. develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters and

x. practise national integration and social harmony.

Friday 12 May 2017

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and its implementation

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

The National Development Council (NDC), in its meeting held on 29th May, 2007 resolved that a special Additional Central Assistance Scheme (RKVY) be launched. The NDC resolved that agricultural development strategies must be reoriented to meet the needs of farmers and called upon the Central and State governments to evolve a strategy to rejuvenate agriculture. The NDC reaffirmed its commitment to achieve 4 per cent annual growth in the agricultural sector during the 11th plan. The Resolution with respect to the Additional Central Assistance scheme reads as below:

Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), its mission and objective

Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY)

Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) envisages a “Slum Free India" with inclusive and equitable cities in which every citizen has access to basic civic infrastructure and social amenities and decent shelter.

Sunday 7 May 2017

Government e Marketplace (GeM) and its advantages for buyer and supplier

Government e Marketplace (GeM)

Directorate General of Supplier and Disposal (DGS&D) is tasked primarily with fixing Rate Contracts (RC) for common user items required by various Government organizations through an online e-procurement portal. Presently, it is being managed by two organized Group ‘A’ Services namely Indian Supply Service and Indian Inspection Service. DGS&D Rate Contracts are used by Central Government Ministries / Departments, PSUs and State Governments.

BABU JAGJIVAN RAM CHHATRAWAS YOJANA FOR GIRLS AND BOYS

Background:

The scheme of construction of hostels is one of the means to enable and encourage students belonging to scheduled castes to attain quality education. The scheme for construction of hostels for girls is in operation from 3rd Five Year Plan while for boys, the same was started from the year 1989-­90. The earlier centrally sponsored scheme of hostels for SC boys and girls has been revised and is renamed as "Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana' w.e.f. 01.01.2008. 

Annapurna scheme and its objective, eligibility criteria, implementing authorities and beneficiaries

Objective

The Annapurna scheme aims at providing food security to meet the requirement of those Senior Citizens who through eligible have remained uncovered under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS). Under the Annapurna Scheme, 10 Kg. of food grains per month are to be provided 'free of cost' to the Beneficiary. The number of persons to be benefited from the Scheme will, in the first instance, be 20% of the persons eligible to receive pension under NOAPS in States/Union Territories. 

Antyodya Anna Yojana (Objective, beneficiaries scale and ration issue price)

OBJECTIVE of Antyodaya Anna yojana

Antyodaya Anna yojana has been launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on the 25th December, 2000. This scheme reflects the commitment of the Government of India to ensure food security for all create a hunger free India in the next five years and to reform and improve the Public Distribution System so as to serve the poorest of the poor in rural and urban areas. It is for the poorest of poor that the Antyodya Anna Yojana has been conserved. It is estimated that 5% of population are unable to get two square meals a day on a sub stained basis through out the year. Their purchasing power is so low that they are not in a position to buy food grains round the year even at BPL rates. It is this 5% of out population (5 crores of people or 1 crore families) which constitutes the target group of Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) and its objective, scope, strategy and outcomes.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission

The JNNURM was launched in 2005 as the first flagship scheme of this Ministry. JnNURM implemented by MoHUPA has two components e.g. Basic Services for Urban poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) which aimed at integrated development of slums through projects for providing shelter, basic services and other related civic amenities with a view to providing utilities to the urban poor.

Saturday 6 May 2017

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY) and its history, eligibility, implementation

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY)

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY), previously Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), is a social welfare flagship programme, created by the Indian Government, to provide housing for the rural poor in India. A similar scheme for urban poor was launched in 2015 as Housing for All by 2022. Indira Awaas Yojana was launched by Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, as one of the major flagship programs of the Ministry of Rural Development to construct houses for BPL population in the villages. Under the scheme, financial assistance worth Rs 70,000 (US$1,100) in plain areas and Rs 75,000 (US$1,200) in difficult areas (high land area) is provided for construction of houses. The houses are allotted in the name of the woman or jointly between husband and wife. The construction of the houses is the sole responsibility of the beneficiary and engagement of contractors is strictly prohibited. Sanitary latrine and smokeless chullah are required to be constructed along with each IAY house for which additional financial assistance is provided from "Total Sanitation Campaign" and "Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana" respectively. This scheme, operating since 1985, provides subsidies and cash-assistance to people in villages to construct their houses, themselves.

Tuesday 2 May 2017

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and its function

NITI Aayog Overview:

The National Institution for Transforming India, also called NITI Aayog, was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on January 1, 2015. NITI Aayog is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. While designing strategic and long term policies and programmes for the Government of India, NITI Aayog also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States.