PIB Summary- 12th March, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme

Context
The Union Cabinet extended the subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2-kg cylinder under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for up to 12 refills per year till the end of 2024-25. 

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme

• Launch Date and Slogan: Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1, 2016, with the slogan “Clean Fuel, Better Life.”
• Objective: Aimed at safeguarding the health of women and children by providing them with clean cooking fuel, namely LPG, to eliminate the health risks associated with smoky kitchens and the collection of firewood.
• Implementing Agency: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
• Budget: Initially allocated Rs 8,000 crore.

Key Features:

• Initially targeted to provide 5 crore LPG connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families with Rs 1600 support per connection over three years (2016-19).
• Subsequently, the target was increased to 8 crore LPG connections in April 2018.
• Connections are registered in the names of women within households.

Eligibility & Identification:

• Open to all BPL families.
• Any adult woman from a BPL family can apply for a deposit-free LPG gas connection under the Ujjwala scheme.
• Expanded in April 2018 to include women beneficiaries from seven additional categories (SC/ST, PMAY, AAY, most backward classes, tea garden, forest dwellers, river islands).
• Identification of BPL families is based on the Socio Economic Caste Census Data from 2011.

Challenges in Implementing the PMUY Scheme

• Identifying deserving households for free LPG connections was challenging due to a lack of accurate data. The SECC-2011 data, although used for identification, was not entirely reliable, resulting in some deserving households being excluded during fieldwork.

Inaccurate BPL Classification:

• The SECC-2011 data also revealed cases where relatively affluent households were classified as Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. This posed difficulties in validating the authenticity of the SECC database.

Awareness and Documentation:

• Many beneficiaries came from economically disadvantaged and less-educated backgrounds. They had limited awareness of the safety requirements for using an LPG stove. Additionally, some households lacked essential documents such as ration cards and Aadhaar cards, which were necessary for availing benefits under the scheme.

Challenges in Establishing Distributorships:

• In certain regions, particularly areas affected by law and order issues or designated as forested areas, setting up LPG distributorships proved to be challenging. This hindered the scheme’s reach, leaving households in those areas without access to cleaner cooking fuel.

Performance of Ujjwala Scheme (Phase-I):

• The release of 8 Crore LPG connections under the scheme significantly increased LPG coverage, rising from 62% on May 1, 2016, to an impressive 99.8% by April 1, 2021.
• Several states have seen substantial benefits from the scheme, including Uttar Pradesh (benefiting over 1.46 crore BPL families), West Bengal (88 lakhs), Bihar (85 lakhs), Madhya Pradesh (71 lakhs), and Rajasthan (63 lakhs).

Ujjwala 2.0 Scheme:

• In the Union budget for FY 21-22, provisions were made for an additional 1 crore LPG connections under Ujjwala 2.0.
• Special facilities have been introduced for migrant families, simplifying the process by eliminating the need for ration cards or address proof. A self-declaration for both family details and proof of address is sufficient.
• As of March 1, 2023, the total number of connections released under PMUY reached 9.59 crore.
• Active domestic LPG consumers have also shown remarkable growth, increasing from 14.52 crore in April 2014 to 31.4 crore as of March 2023.

Sashakt Nari – Viksit Bharat Programme

Context
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today participated in Sashakt Nari – Viksit Bharat programme and witnessed agricultural drone demonstrations conducted by Namo Drone Didis at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi.

About Sashakt Nari – Viksit Bharat programme

The program involves several key components and initiatives aimed at promoting economic empowerment and financial independence among women, particularly in rural areas. Here are the key elements of the program:
Distribution of Drones:

• The Prime Minister will distribute drones to 1,000 Namo Drone Didis during the program.

Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi Initiatives:

• These initiatives are crucial for realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of promoting economic empowerment and financial independence among women, especially in rural areas.

Honoring Lakhpati Didis:

• The Prime Minister will honor Lakhpati Didis who have achieved success with the assistance of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
• These accomplished women actively support and inspire other members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for their progress.

Bank Loans Disbursement:

• Prime Minister will disburse approximately eight thousand crore rupees in bank loans to SHGs.
• The loans will be provided at subsidized interest rates through Bank Linkage Camps established by banks in each district.

Capitalization Support Fund:

• There will be an allocation of around two thousand crore rupees in the Capitalization Support Fund to support SHGs.

NaMo Drone Didi

The NaMo Drone Didi Initiative is a government scheme aimed at empowering rural women through training in drone piloting for agricultural applications. Here are the key details of the initiative:
Program Overview:
Launch and Leadership:

• Launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Objective:

• Empower 15,000 women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with agricultural drones.

Tasks and Applications:

• Trained women can use drones for tasks such as crop monitoring, fertilization, and seed sowing in agriculture.

Participant Eligibility and Training:

Eligibility:

• Open to women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• Candidates recommended for training by district authorities and the National Rural Livelihood Mission.

Training Program:

• Comprehensive training covering practical and theoretical aspects of drone operation, maintenance, and safety.
• Includes a five-day drone training course and a four-day ground training session.
• Total training cost is approximately Rs 65,000, with an additional Rs 16,000 for ground training.
• Initial training costs are sponsored by companies, with trainees covering subsequent ground training expenses.

Benefits for Participants:

• Successful participants receive a Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), allowing legal drone operation.

Drone Allocation:

• Participants receive a drone, with the central government covering 80 percent of its cost.

Purpose and Objectives:
Empowerment:

• Empower rural women with a new skill set to actively contribute to agricultural efficiency and productivity.

Labor Reduction:

• Reduce the labor-intensive nature of agriculture, promoting self-sufficiency among rural women.

Lakhpati Didi Initiative

The Lakhpati Didi Initiative, announced during the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech on August 15, 2023, aims to encourage women to establish micro-enterprises within their villages. Here are the key details of the initiative:
Overview:
Launch Date:

• The initiative was unveiled by the Prime Minister during his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2023.

Objective:

• Encourage women, especially those in self-help groups (SHGs), to establish micro-enterprises and generate a sustainable annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh per household.

Implementing Agency:

• DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission) spearheads this initiative.

Features:

Training Focus:

• The initiative involves training two crore women, particularly those in SHGs, to acquire diverse skills. Training includes areas such as plumbing, LED bulb manufacturing, drone operation and repair, tailoring, and weaving.

Skill Diversity:

• Women completing the training will have acquired a variety of skills, providing them with opportunities to earn income through their newly acquired capabilities.

Cross-Governmental Strategy:

• The Ministry of Rural Development is adopting a comprehensive, cross-governmental strategy, fostering convergence to transform the rural economy and empower ‘Lakhpati Didis.’

Implementation:

Livelihood Activities:

• DAY-NRLM focuses on multiple livelihood activities within SHG households to ensure a yearly income of Rs 1 lakh or more.

Value Chain Interventions:

• Value chain interventions are incorporated to enhance the overall income-generating potential of the trained women.

Empowerment and Economic Transformation:

Empowering Rural Women:

• The initiative aims to empower rural women by equipping them with skills that enable them to establish and manage micro-enterprises.

Rural Economic Transformation:

• The comprehensive strategy and convergence efforts are geared towards transforming the rural economy through the active participation and economic empowerment of women.