March 2017- Government Schemes Current Affairs Notes | EduRev

Central Government Schemes

Centre to build 1 crore houses under PMAY-G by 2019

In a written reply to question raised in Lok Sabha, Ram Kripal Yadav - Minister of State for Rural Development mentioned that Central Govt. has approved the construction of 1 crore houses under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Grameen (PMAY-G) with the financial outlay of Rs 81,975 crore during the period of 2016-17 to 2018-19. 

• This decision is a part of Govt. efforts to achieve ‘Housing For All by 2022’ mission set by PM Modi.

Moving towards ‘Housing For All’ by 2022: 

Going by provisional figures of Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, approximately 4 crore rural households in India are face housing deprivation.

• After considering work done in this direction under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) and various State Govt. supported schemes since 2011, 2.95 crore houses still remain to be constructed for achieving the goal of ‘Housing For All by 2022’.
• This approval to build 1 crore houses under PMAY-G by 2019 constitutes the first phase of action plan.

Kerala, Tripura & Arunachal Pradesh Takes States’ List Under UDAY to 26 

 i. The power ministry has informed that a total of 26 states have now become the part of the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) with the recent entry of Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura for the revival of debt stressed Discoms.

ii. While the state government of Kerala and Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd along with the government of India signed the UDAY scheme on March 2, 2017, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura joined the scheme on March 29, 2017.

iii. With the participation of the three states in the UDAY, they would have an overall net benefit of approximately Kerala-Rs 4,178 crore, Arunachal Pradesh-Rs 309 crore and Tripura-Rs 810 crore due to cheaper funds, reduction in AT&C and transmission losses, interventions in energy efficiency during the turnaround period.

Government Approves Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units

i. The Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta informed the Lok Sabha on March 16, 2017 that the Government has approved a new scheme, Solar Energy Scheme, to provide financial assistance/capital subsidy to small powerloom units, for installation of Solar Photo Voltaic 
(SPV) plant.

ii. Aim: To mitigate the problem of power cut/ shortage faced by decentralized powerloom units in the country so as to improve utilization, efficiency, productivity to face both the domestic and international markets competitively.

iii. The Scheme is meant for Units having 04, 06 & 08 powerlooms and subsidies for different SPV plants will be given in the range of Rs 2,25,000 to Rs 8,55,000 depending upon the capacity of the SPV plant (4KWP, 6KWP, 8 KWP).

iv. Besides, the Government of India shall provide financial assistance/capital subsidy to the extent of 50%, 75% & 90% of the basic cost of the Solar Energy Plant (Cost of Solar Panel + Inverter + batteries) to the applicants of General category, SC & ST respectively.

v. The Scheme will come into force with effect from April 1, 2017.

Government Launches Rs. 52000 lakh Mission Fingerling to achieve Blue Revolution

i. The Union government has launched Mission Fingerling on March 11, 2017 to achieve Blue Revolution with the holistic development and management of fisheries in the country.

ii. The Blue Revolution programme focuses on creating an environment that envisages integrated and holistic development and management of fisheries for the socio economic development of the fishers and fish farmers.

iii. The main motive behind this programme is to enhance the fisheries production from 10.79 mmt (2014-15) to 15 mmt by 2020-21.

iv. The Department has identified 20 States based on their potential and other relevant factors to strengthen the Fish Seed infrastructure in the country.

v. Total expenditure of about Rs. 52000 lakh has been identified by the government for the programme to establish hatcheries and Fingerling rearing pond to ensure the fish production of 426 crores fish fingerling, 25.50 crores Post Larvae of shrimp and crab in the country.

Centre Launches New Scheme TIES for Developing Export Linked Infrastructure

The Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a new scheme named Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) on March 15, 2017 for developing export linked infrastructure and boost the competitiveness of India’s shipments.

• Aim: TIES aims to bridge the infrastructure gap in India to ensure smoother movement of export cargo and also ensure quality standards and certification measures to promote outbound shipment.
• The scheme will have a total budgetary allocation of Rs 600 crore for three years with an annual outlay of Rs 200 crore.
• It will be implemented from April 1, 2017 and span from 2017-18 till 2019-20.

Salient Features of TIES 

An inter-ministerial empowered committee under the chairmanship of commerce secretary Rita Teaotia has been constituted for sanctioning and monitoring of the project.

• The 10 member committee comprises of commerce secretary, DGFT, NITI Aayog CEO, joint secretaries from DIPP, Home Affairs Ministry and Ministry of Development of North East Region.
• The scheme would provide assistance for setting up and upgradation of infrastructure projects with export linkages like the border haats, land customs stations, quality testing and certification labs, cold chains, trade promotion centres, dry ports, export warehousing and packaging, Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and ports/airports cargo terminuses
• Besides, TIES would also consider the last and first mile connectivity projects related to export logistics.
• Under the scheme, priority would be given to the projects involving significant contribution by the implementing agency and bank financing for achieving financial closure.
• Two states, Rajasthan and Karantaka, have already submitted project proposals under this scheme.

Centre Approves Rs 756 cr scheme for Treating Cataract Patients 

i. The Union Health Minister J P Nadda has announced that an amount of Rs. 756 crore has been approved by the government under a scheme for the treatment of 786 lakh cataract patients over the period of 5 years.

ii. The aim of the scheme is to eradicate the blindness among people due to cataract by 2022. The scheme is a part of the National Blindness Control Programme.

iii. Under the scheme the government would provide Rs. 2000 financial assistance for each cataract operation which would include the cost of lenses as well.

State Government Schemes

LED Lights, Energy Saving Fans Distribution Scheme – launched by Virbhadra Singh

i. The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh officially launched the LED Lights, Energy Saving Fans Distribution scheme on March 29, 2017. As the part of the scheme, LED tube lights and energy-efficient fans are distributed to promote energy saving.

ii. The distribution of LED tube lights and energy saving fans is carried out under Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDs and Appliances for All (UJALA) scheme

iii. The Himachal Pradesh government on September 2016, launched the UJALA scheme to distribute subsidized CLF bulbs and LED lights, which helped in saving energy worth about Rs 200 crore and the present initiative is an extension of that scheme.

Arunachal Pradesh Launches Adarsh Gram Yojana for Rural Poor

i. The Arunachal Pradesh government has launched a new scheme Adarsh Gram Yojana that is in accordance with the basic philosophy of the Prime Minister “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas” (Collective Efforts Inclusive Growth).

ii. The scheme aims to reach the poor people in rural areas of the state to serve them better.

iii. Under the scheme, 123 villages (comprising one village per circle) will be developed as ‘Model Villages’ during the fiscal year 2017-18.

iv. The state government has allocated an amount of Rs.93 crore in the Budget 2017-18 for infrastructure development and for creating employment opportunities and community assets for the people of those villages.

Haryana Government announces Tirtha Darshan Scheme for Senior Citizen

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced Tirtha Darshan Scheme on March 3, 2017 during the ongoing budget session of the Haryana Assembly.Under the scheme, senior citizens of Haryana domicile above the age of 60 years will be able to go on a Pilgrimage within the country at government expense.

♦ The government would bear the entire cost of the tour of senior citizens belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.

♦ In case of a couple, the expenses of the spouse belonging to BPL family would also be borne by the government. They would also be allowed to take an assistant along with them.In case of senior citizens of non-BPL families, the government would bear only 70 percent of the cost.

Delhi Govt Extends Midday Meal Scheme for Girls Up To Class 12

i. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi government has come up with an initiative to extend the mid-day meal facility for the girl students upto class 12 in all Delhi government schools.

ii. Currently Delhi provides the facility to all the students of government schools including boys upto class 8 only.

iii. However, from April 1, 2017, the midday meal service will also include girl students from 9-12 also. Later the facility would also cover boys upto class 12.

iv. Delhi government has decided to set aside an amount of Rs. 50 crore for this purpose in its Budget for 2017-18 to be presented on March 8, 2017.

v. The initiative makes Delhi the “first state” in the country to serve midday meal up to class 12.

Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami Launches Rs 1580 cr Housing Scheme

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami launched a Housing Scheme on March 9, 2017 for construction of concrete houses for the economically poor section of the society.

♦The project is estimated at Rs 1,580 crore and will be implemented by the state government with financial assistance from the Center.

♦While launching the scheme, CM Palaniswami gave away work orders to five beneficiaries.

♦For the current fiscal 2016-17, concrete houses will be constructed for 50,170 beneficiaries in town panchayat limits.