Daily PIB Summary & Analysis for RBI Grade B 2022, NABARD Grade A 2021, UPSC Civil Services, and SEBI Grade A Exam. In this Article we will discuss Press Information Bureau (PIB) Programs and their Summary for RBI Grade B Economics and Social Issue Section.
Press Information Bureau (PIB) releases news related to the policies, programmes, initiatives and achievements of the Government of India. PIB releases are important to be read for the RBI Grade B, NABARD Grade A, UPSC Civil Services however, it is also equally important is to know which PIB Article should be read and which to be left.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) is the nodal agency of the government of India to broadcast and publicize information on government policies, initiatives, achievements and working of every ministry and department within the government through its official website using various articles, images and photographs.
Strengthening of Agriculture Produce Market Infrastructure
In order to strengthen the infrastructure in APMCs, they have been recognized as one of the eligible entities under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. Under the AIF,APMCs are eligible for multiple projects (of different infrastructure types) within their designated market area.
- Further, Government of India has launched National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Scheme on 14th April, 2016 with the objective of creating online transparent competitive bidding system to facilitate farmers with remunerative prices for their produce
- Under the e-NAM Scheme, Government is providing free software and assistance of Rs. 75.00 Lakh per mandi for related hardware including quality assaying equipment and creation of infrastructure
- So far, 1000 mandis of 18 States and 3 UTs have been integrated with e-NAM platform.
- Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget released on 1st February, 2021, 1000 more mandis with e-NAM will be intergrated, this will further strengthen the mandis.
Provision under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
- Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’ was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 9th August 2020.
- The scheme provides support for creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets
- Interest Subvention: All loans under this financing facility have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crores.
- This subvention is available for a maximum period of 7 years.
- APMCs are eligible for multiple projects (of different infrastructure types) within their designated market area.
- In such cases, interest subvention for a loan up to Rs. 2 crores will be provided for each project of different infrastructure types e.g. cold storage, sorting, grading and assaying units, silos, etc. within the designated market area of the APMC.
Modernization of Agriculture
The Government has taken various steps to modernizing agriculture for sustainable growth in agriculture sector. Some of the interventions in this direction are:
- Creation of a network of 722 Krishi VigyanKendras (KVKs) for dissemination of knowledge and information about modern technology etc.
- Initiatives under Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme like Extension Reforms, Mass Media Support to Agricultural Extension, Kisan Call Centres, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres, Exhibitions/ Fairs etc.
- Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
- Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi.
- National Agriculture e-Market platform (e-NAM) has been established
- Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme.
- Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
- Promotion of 10,000 FPOs.
Export Potential of Agriculture excluding allied products (Marine, Meat etc)
- Agriculture exports excluding allied products (Marine, Meat etc.) have set record in 2020-21 with total agri export of Rs. 213513.38 Crore which has been highest since last two decades.
- The top 10 agriculture commodities which are in demand in the international market are Rice (other than basmati), rice-basmati, spices, sugar, cotton, oil-meals, castor oil, fresh fruits, tea and fresh vegetables.
Gender Mainstreaming in Agriculture
The guidelines of the various beneficiary oriented schemes of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare provide that States and other implementing agencies should incur at least 30% expenditure on women farmers.
- These schemes include Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oilseed & Oil Palm, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Sub-Mission for Seed and Planting Material, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
The Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (ICAR-CIWA), Bhubaneswar functioning under Indian Council of Agricultural Research is mandated to undertake research on gender issues in agriculture and allied fields
Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), a sub-component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is under implementation in Ministry of Rural Development since 2011 with the aim to empower women by making systematic investments to enhance their participation in agriculture based livelihoods
- Note: In DAY-NRLM, there is no State-wise budget allocation for every year.It is a demand driven programme implemented in project mode through the State Rural Livelihoods Missions as Project Implementing Agencies
NABARD is promoting FPOs under its dedicated funds viz. PRODUCE Fund and Producers Organizations Development Fund (PODF) towards collectivization of farmers for enhancing income by way of providing better market accessibility for their farm produce.
- NABARD has promoted 5073 FPOs under PRODUCE Fund and PODF, out of which 178 FPOs are exclusive women FPOs comprising of 0.74 lakh shareholder women members (No need to remember this Data, Just for information)
Answer writing Question based on Above Article.
Q. Discuss the significance of Women in Agriculture, challenges and intervention by the government. (You can use the Above article for intervention part.)
Schemes for Promotion of Agriculture
Launch of PM-KISAN in 2019 -an income support scheme to farmers providing Rs. 6000 per year in 3 equal installments.
PMFBY was launched in 2016 addressing problems of high premium rates for farmers and reduction in sum insured due to capping. In past 5 Years of implementation 29.22 crore farmer applicants enrolled and over 8.83 crore (Provisional) farmer applicants have received claims of over Rs. 101875 crore.
Institutional credit increased from Rs.7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 16.5 lakh crore in 2021-22.
Soil Health Cards have been issued free of cost to nearly 11 crore farmers under a nationwide program.
Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY) was initiated in 2015-16 to promote organic farming in the country. Two-year achievement under PKVY scheme-19043 clusters have been formed and an area of 3.81 lakh ha has been covered benefitting 9.52 lakh farmers.
Neem Coated Urea has been introduced since 2015-16 to ensure long availability of nutrients in the soil by slow release of nitrogen. It has also helped in curtailing diversion of urea for non- agricultural activities.
Within a year of the launch of AIF, the scheme mobilized Rs.7700 Crore agriculture infrastructure in the country for more than 7300 projects.
Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs launched with a total budgetary provision of Rs. 6865 Crore in February 2020.
A National Bee and Honey Mission (NBHM) has been launched in 2020 as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Rs.500 crore for the period 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 has been allocated for the sector.
Per Drop More Crop component of Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY_PDMC) aims to increase water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies, i.e., drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.
A Micro Irrigation Fund of Rs 5000 crore has been placed with NABARD. In the Budget for 2021-22 the corpus of the fund has been increased to Rs.1000 crores. Projects worth Rs 3970.17 crore covering 12.83 lakh hectares have been approved.
Agricultural mechanization is extremely vital to modernize agriculture and reduce drudgery of farming operations. During the period from 2014-15 to 2021-22 (as on 31.10.2021) an amount of Rs. 4878.31 crore have been allocated for agricultural mechanization.
In 18 states and 03 UTs, 1000 markets have already been integrated with the E-NAM Platform. As per Budget 2021-22 announcement, another 1000 mandis will be integrated with e-NAM.
646 start-ups in the agriculture and allied sectors have been selected (till 31 March 2021) for funding of a sum of Rs. 69.92 crore in instalments and Rs. 33.94 crore have been released to respective KPs and RABIs for funding these start-ups.
Agricultural Systems in India
- The share of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in total Gross Value Added (GVA) of the country has increased from 18.4% in 2019-20 to 20.2% in 2020-21 at current prices.
- The Gross Value Added of Agriculture and Allied Sectors at current price has increased from 33.94 lakh crore in 2019-20 to 36.16 lakh crore in 2020-21.
- As per 3rd advance estimates for 2020-21, total food grain production in the country is estimated at record 305.44 million tones which is higher by 7.94 million tonnes than the production of food grain during 2019-20.
- Similarly, total horticulture production in 2020-21 is estimated to a record 331.05 million tones which is an increase of about 10.6 million tone over that achieved in 2019-20.
- Further, to address the transportation issues of Farmers and other stake holders during Covid-19, the Government has launched the Kisan Rath Mobile App on 17.04.2020.
Coverage of PMKSY-PDMC
The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY-PDMC)’ from 2015-16 in all the States of the country which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation viz. Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems
- Total area of 59.37 lakh ha has been covered under Micro Irrigation in the country under PMKSY-PDMC from 2015-16 to till date.
- The PMKSY- PDMC is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the funds under the scheme is shared between Central Government and State Government in the ratio of 60:40 for all States except the North Eastern and Himalayan states wherein sharing pattern is 90:10.
With the objective of facilitating the States in mobilizing resources for expanding coverage of micro irrigation, a Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with corpus of Rs. 5000 crore was created with NABARD during 2018-19.
- To continue the efforts, during the current year, a Budget Announcement was made to double the initial corpus of MIF from Rs. 5,000 crores to Rs. 10,000 crore.
- The GoI provides 3% interest subvention on loans extended to State Govt. under MIF.
Efforts are being made to converge ‘Per Drop More Crop’ Scheme with Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY), Namami Gange Districts, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surakshaevem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), Water Harvesting Structures through Watershed Development component of PMKSY to propagate micro irrigation intensively to contribute in achieving the desired targets to enhance the water use efficiency in agriculture.
- Out of 53.73 lakh hectares covered under the micro-irrigation under this scheme, Karnataka has covered 10,92,874 hectares that is 20 per cent of the total micro-irrigation under the scheme while Tamil Nadu has covered 8,06,966 hectares (15 per cent of the total) - (2019 data but still Karnataka is leading, similar trend based 2 marker question was asked in NABARD Grade A mains, so always connect such info as the question pattern has changed)
- Out of total 140.13 million hectares of sown area, the net irrigated area is 68.38 milion hectares while 71.74 million hectares are unirrigated. Uttar Pradesh is the most irrigated state (17.6 million hectares) in India.
Increasing Farm Income through Exports
- Agriculture exports help farmers to take advantage of wider international market which translates into increased income for the farmers.
- The Government has adopted several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies that focus on higher incomes for the farmers.
- All these policies &programmes are being supported by higher budgetary allocations, non-budgetary financial resources by way of creating Corpus Funds like Micro Irrigation Fund and Agri-marketing Fund, Promotion of 10,000 FPOs, Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchaiYojna (PMKSY), Implementation of National Bee Keeping Honey Mission (NBHM), Interest Subvention Scheme by providing Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Electronic National Agriculture Market (e- NAM) etc. Also, one lakh crore ‘Agri infrastructure fund’ has been setup for post-harvest infrastructure.
- Organic farming in the country is being promoted through dedicated schemes namely ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) since 2015-16 to cater to the needs of domestic and export markets respectively.
- Agriculture Export Policy, 2018 envisages development of clusters of various agri products
Q. Discuss the export potential of Agriculture Sector. What are the latest intervention by government to promote agri-exports.
Promotion of Agro-Forestry
- Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme is being implemented by this Department since 2016-17 to encourage tree plantation on farm land in a complementary and integrated manner with crops and livestock, to help the farmers to get additional income and make their farming systems more climate resilient and adaptive.
- Presently, the scheme is being implemented in 21 States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and 2 UTs viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
- Nursery Development : 100% for Government Agencies and 50% for farmers/private agencies.
- Peripheral/Boundary Plantation, Low Density Plantation (100-500 Ha), High Density Block Plantation: 100% for Government Agencies and 50% for farmers/private agencies in four years in the ratio of 40:20:20:20
- Asked in NABARD, 10 Maker on Social Forestry, they can ask it again in the form of Objective next year
Foreign Investment in 2020-21: Total FDI - $81,973 mn which included FPI contribution of $38,725 mn
PLI SCHEME
Keeping in view India’s vision of becoming ‘Atmanirbhar’ and to enhance India’s Manufacturing capabilities and Exports, an outlay of INR 1.97 lakh crore (US$ 26 billion) has been announced in Union Budget 2021-22 for PLI schemes for 13 key sectors of manufacturing starting from fiscal year (FY) 2021-22.
- The 13 key sectors include already existing 3 sectors namely (i) Mobile Manufacturing and Specified Electronic Components, (ii) Critical Key Starting materials/Drug Intermediaries & Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, (iii) Manufacturing of Medical Devices and 10 new key sectors which have been approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2020.
- These 10 key sectors are: (i) Automobiles and Auto Components, (ii) Pharmaceuticals Drugs, (iii) Specialty Steel, (iv) Telecom & Networking Products, (v) Electronic/Technology Products, (vi) White Goods (ACs and LEDs), (vii) Food Products, (viii) Textile Products: MMF segment and technical textiles, (ix) High efficiency solar PV modules, and (x) Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery.
- PLI Scheme for an additional sector, Drones and Drone Components, has also been approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2021.
- The PLI schemes are being implemented by the concerned Ministries/ Departments.
NEIA SCHEME
- The National Export Insurance Account (NEIA) Trust aims to ensure the availability of credit risk cover for projects and other high-value exports, which are desirable from the point of view of national interest, but which ECGC is unable to underwrite due to capacity constraints or at terms, which are different from its regular policies.
- NEIA provides additional support to the insurance cover provided by ECGC for project exports making Indian project exporters more competitive and gain a stronger foothold in various jurisdictions, highlighting India’s capabilities to execute large projects abroad.
- Government has approved financial aid for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 to NEIA Trust. Government has approved Grant-in-aid infusion of Rs.1,650 crore into NEIA Trust during 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Steps taken by the Government for Gender Inclusion Fund
National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 provides for setting up a Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF) to build the nation’s capacity to provide equitable quality education for all girls as well as transgender students.
The above objectives of NEP for Equitable and quality education for girls and transgender children are being met through specific provisions under SamagraShiksha2.0 by allocating dedicated resources for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged groups (SEDGs).
Following provisions made for GIF under SamagraShiksha2.0:
- Provision of free text-books up to Class VIII to all children.
- Uniforms to all girls, SC, ST children and Below Poverty Line (BPL) children up to class VIII
- Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalayas
- NetajiSubhash Chandra Bose AwasiyaVidyalayas and Hostels
- Rani LaxmiBaiAtmarakshaPrashikshan (Self defense training to Girls)
- Incinerator & Sanitary Pad Vending Machines
- Stipend for CWSN Girls
Representation of Women in Panchayat System
- Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides for not less than one-third reservation for women out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats
- However, as per the information available with the Ministry, 21 States have made provision of 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts
- Article 280 (3) (bb) of the Constitution of India provides for the Finance Commission to make recommendations regarding the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State.
- 15th Finance Commission recommended Rs. 44,901.00 Crore for Five years.
MoU with Flipkart Under National Rural Livelihood Mission
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is entered on November 2nd, 2021 between Ministry of Rural Development and Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd. to allow the Self Help Groups (SHGs) producers including the artisans, weavers and craftsmen to access national markets through the Flipkart Samarth programme.
- The Ministry in collaboration with Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has created “Saras Collection” as a Store Front in GeM for marketing of SHG products.
Employment of Rural Youths Under Employment Generation Schemes
The Ministry of Rural Development is presently implementing three welfare schemes for employment generation which provide employment to people in rural areas inclusive of rural youths of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Economically Weaker Sections of the country
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): This is a demand driven wage employment programme which provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY): This is a placement linked skill development programme for wage employment.
- Skill development through Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs): This enables a trainee to take bank credit and start his/her own Micro-enterprise. Some of such trainees may also seek regular salaried jobs.
- While MGNREGS provides direct employment, DDU-GKY and RSETI schemes promote employability through either wage or self-employment leading to economic and social development of youths of rural area of the country.
Apart from the above mentioned schemes of the Ministry of Rural Development, various other Ministries/Departments are also implementing the programmes/schemes for employment generation which are as follows:
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Under Skill India Mission, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is implementing its flagship scheme PMKVY for Skill based training of the youth across the country including of youth belonging to Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe/ Economically weaker Section under Short Term Training (STT) courses and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
- Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises is implementing Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which is a major credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and unemployed youth. The scheme was launched during 2008-09.
Q. Discuss the initiatives taken by the government to promote Employment of Rural Youths.
Rehabilitation Schemes For Beggars
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes sub-scheme – “Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging”.
- This scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons, who are engaged in the act of begging. The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counseling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on.
Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers
Government is implementing a Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The scheme have following main provisions for providing assistance to the identified manual scavengers for their rehabilitations:-
- One Time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,00/- to one identified manual scavenger in the family
- Skill Development Training of manual scavengers and their dependants upto two years with stipend @ Rs. 3,000/- per month during the training period.
- Capital Subsidy upto Rs. 5.00 lakh for those who availed loans for Self Employment Projects including sanitation related projects.
- Health insurance under Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to the families of all the identified manual scavengers.
Health and Welfare of Pregnant Women
Anganwadi Services: Under Anganwadi Services, a package of six services is provided to Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers and to Children under the age of 6 years i.e. (i) Supplementary Nutrition (SNP); (ii) Pre-school Non-formal Education; (iii) Nutrition & Health Education; (iv) Immunization; (v) Health Check-up, and (vi) Referral Services.
- Three of the six services, viz., Immunization, Health check-up and Referral Services are related to health and are provided through NRHM & Public Health Infrastructure.
Supplementary Nutrition (SNP) is provided as per the norms for 300 days in a year to pregnant women and lactating mothers in the form of Take Home Ration to include 600 kcal and 18-20 gm of protein.
Maternity benefit under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is available to all Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PWLM)as compensation for partial wage loss and for promoting institutional deliveries.
- The scheme excludes PW&LM who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force, for first living child of family.
- Under the scheme Rs.5,000/- are provided to the eligible beneficiary in three installments during pregnancy and lactation. It is provided in three installment { (i) 1000/- , (ii) 2000/- & (iii) 2000/- } directly into the account of Pregnant Women (PW) and Lactating Mothers (LM) for the first live birth of the family subject to their fulfilling of specific conditions relating to Maternal and Child Health.
- Check more details here: http://www.wcddel.in/PMMVY.html
Schemes pertaining to health and welfare of pregnant women and the foetus are Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK).
- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission (NRHM).
- Launched with the objective of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) promotes institutional delivery among pregnant women especially with weak socio-economic status i.e. women from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and BPL households.
- The scheme, launched on 12 April 2005, is under implementation in all states and Union Territories (UTs), with a special focus on Low Performing States (LPS).
GoI launched Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) in June 2011 to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for pregnant women delivering in public health institutions and sick infants accessing public health institutions for treatment. The entitlements include:
- Free and Zero Expense delivery including C-section, free care in case of ante-natal & post-natal complications
- Free drugs, diagnostics, blood and consumables
- Free diet during stay in facilities
- Free transport home to health institution, between health institutions in case of referral and drop back home
- Exemption from all kinds of user charges
- Similar entitlements for sick Infants (upto 1 year of age)
- Extended to all antenatal & post-natal complications of pregnancy
Policy To Promote Women Empowerment
The Government of India has taken various steps to ensure empowerment of women through their social, educational, economic and political uplifting through various schematic interventions.
- While the schemes implemented by the Government like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban & Rural), the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Pradhan Mantri Vyay Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) support women and girls to be socially secure, the initiatives like Samagra Shiksha, Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship, Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna, Swacch Vidyalaya Mission, etc. ensure that schools are girl-friendly especially for vulnerable sections of society and have adequate facilities in place to fulfill their special requirements.
- Further, the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 prioritizes gender equity and envisions ensuring equitable access to quality education to all students, with a special emphasis on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).
- In addition, the Government of India has decided to implement the Umbrella Scheme for Safety, Security and Empowerment of Women as an integrated women empowerment program under the name ‘Mission Shakti’, for addressing the issues of women on a life-cycle continuum basis and for making them equal partners in nation-building through convergence at different levels of governance and a participative approach.
Q. Discuss Women Empowerment in India. Importance, challenges and Initiatives
Use Points from this Article: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1776873
Incentivizing Sectors to Empower Women
The Government implements several schemes for promoting employment and entrepreneurship, under which majority of beneficiaries are women.
- This includes Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand-up India, Skill India etc. Further, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) implements a major credit-linked subsidy programme named Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for generating employment in the Country by setting up of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector.
- Under PMEGP, general category beneficiaries can avail of margin money subsidy of 25% of the project cost in rural areas and 15% in urban areas.
- For beneficiaries belonging to special categories such as scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, minorities, women, ex-servicemen, physically handicapped, beneficiaries belonging to North Eastern Region, hill and border areas, etc., the margin money subsidy is 35% in rural areas and 25% in urban area
- Further, Under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), collateral free loan upto Rs 20 lakh is provided for women self help groups, resulting in financial inclusion of women and their economic empowerment.
