Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

With a voluntary enrolment of 92 crore people, the Aadhaar card is now the most widely held identification document in the country besides perhaps being the sole ID for many of its holders, including many families below the poverty line. 
 In comparison, 5.7 crore people have passports, 17 crore people <keyword id="61610" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="pan">PAN</keyword> cards, 60 crore voter ID cards, 15 crore ration cards and 17.3 crore driving licences. 
 
Aadhaar has helped effect savings of Rs 2,600 crore by eliminating bogus claims in welfare schemes besides engendering greater transparency and consequently reducing corruption, reports from states and Union Territories show. 
 
It is also delivering benefits in progarmmes tailored for the poor like <keyword id="92538" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="MNREGA">MNREGA</keyword> where 3 crore of 9 crore active workers have Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. One crore wage transactions have been remitted and the process has become more efficient and transparent with 87,000 banking correspondents providing village and neighbourhood-level micro ATM services. 
 

	Aadhar is particularly crucial for BPL families who are the primary beneficiaries of PMJDY and three pensions schemes run by the Centre — Atal Pension Yojana, PM Suraksha Bima Yojana and PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana --are linked to UID. The schemes, according to official sources, are intended to provide a wide coverage by way of insurance with small premiums, flagged by the government as a key policy goal. 
	 
	Image credit: Indiatimes

Aadhar card the most widely held identification document with enrolment of 92 crore people

Even as Finance Minister <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword> played down the concerns over <keyword id="1146394" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="deficient-monsoon">deficient monsoon</keyword> this year saying the forecast was misplaced and distress was far-fetched, the <keyword id="151047" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rural-Development-Ministry">Rural Development Ministry</keyword> went on war footing to ramp up flagship rural jobs scheme to generate income for affected families. 
 
Jaitley said that the timing and spread of the June-September rainy season suggested the effect won't be as dire, adding that the distribution pattern of rain forecast was such that any impact on farm output will be limited. 
 
The Finance Minister also said that there was "abundance of foodgrain" and in any case, the forecast signalled less pain than last year. 
 
India's Meteorological Department (IMD) revised its forecast of average rainfall in the June-September monsoon to 88% from 93%, fuelling fears of a drought. 
Farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, etc are already distressed due to unseasonal rainfall. 
 
Meanwhile, the Rural Development Ministry is revamping the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) and checking de-silting of water bodies, building check dams, percolation tanks and farm ponds to brace against a possible drought and build assets for future. 
 
"We will use satellite mapping to identify areas where the work needs to be taken up. Once the regular monsoon sets in, such construction cannot be done so we have to get into action immediately," a senior rural development ministry official told Economic Times. 
As per the data for 22 states, 93,000 water-harvesting structures have been built to provide irrigation to 1.2 lakh hectares of land. 
 
"Most of the work in rural areas in permitted under (the jobs programme) and since it is an open-ended scheme with no financial limitation, it is advantageous to take up work under this scheme," the official told ET. 
 
The ministry is also going to expedite its watershed management programmes. 
 
As per Economic Times, only 40% of agriculture area receives assured irrigation in the country. 
 
Jaitley said only the North-West is forecast to get slightly inadequate rainfall. “A large part of the northwest has substantial irrigation facility", Jaitley said. 
 
Sufficient foodgrain 
 
The Food Corporation of India (FCI), in the beginning, had more than 51 million tonnes of rice and wheat in the central pool itself. 
 
"The rainfall was less last year than what is predicted now and it came even later. Even then we did not let prices rise. We have more than sufficient food stock. Taking them to the market is one of the tools the government has,” said Jaitley. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Arun Jaitley dispels deficient monsoon fears, Rural Ministry revamps MNREGA

Tax breaks, an urban MNREGA and other budget ideas from one of India's top fund managers

<ul><li>According to Nielsen India’s latest report, rural India saw 3X growth than the rest of India in June. </li><li>Reverse migration expected to give a positive uptick.</li></ul>Nielsen’s latest report revealed that rural areas are driving the growth for our country. It saw 3X growth in June than the rest of India. Lower COVID incidence, government stimulus and agricultural impetus are boosting the rural consumer sentiment. <div type="image" title="rural india growth" msid="77258173" hostid="261"></div> The report further explains the key reasons behind this growth: <ul><li>Lower COVID cases in Rural</li><li>Reverse migration expected to give a positive uptick</li><li>MNREGA wages at an all time high</li><li>Rural disbursement more than 2X of same period last year</li><li>The progress of the southwest monsoon so far has been bountiful. Flood impact very low compared to last year, restricted to 2-3 states</li><li>40-60% higher water availability in reservoirs</li><li>Increased sowing acreage</li><li>The Rabi harvest in April was good and with a good monsoon Kharif harvest is expected to augurs well too</li><li>The MSP prices for crops have also seen a significant increase</li></ul>

Rural India is seeing faster economic recovery than urban, this report shows why

New Delhi, Mar 26 () Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced 5 kg of wheat or rice and one kg of preferred pulses free-of-cost every month for the next three months for 80 crore poor across the country to deal with the economic impact of the lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak.As many of 20.5 crore women Jan Dhan Account holders will get Rs 500 per month for next three months to run their households.For poor senior citizens, widow and disabled will get an ex-gratia of Rs 1,000.Also, the daily wage under MNREGA has been increased to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 5 crore workers.The minister said the government will front-load Rs 2,000 payment to farmers in the first week of April under the existing PM Kishan Yojana to benefit 8.69 crore farmers.Also, the beneficiaries of Ujjwala LPG scheme will get free cooking gas for the next three months, she said.This forms part of the Rs 1.70 lakh crore Gramin Kalyan Package. DP ANZ BALBAL

Govt to provide 5 kg grains, 1 kg pulses for free over next 3 months: FM

The NDA government headed by <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> has been focusing enough on the rural development as evident from the allocation of funds towards this sector through the consecutive budgets presented by the government during its five year term starting from 2014-15. While presenting the budget for the fiscal year, the Finance Minister <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword> remarked that the government would spend Rs 14.34 lakh crores in the rural areas of the country that will lead to creating employment opportunities of 321 crore person days besides developing the rural infrastructure significantly. In addition to creating enough employment opportunities to the rural folk, the 2018-19 budget also intended to construct 3.17 lakh km of roads, 1.88 crore toilets, and 51 lakh houses. The budget speech of Jaitley observed that 1.75 crores of new households would receive electricity connections. While talking about the merits of the 2018-19 budget in terms of creating enough room to facilitate the rural development in the country, Rural development minister Narendra Singh Tomar praised that the budget under reference was the one for ‘New India’ which would lead to the comprehensive development of the nation. The Modi government increased the budgetary allocation for the Rural Development Ministry to Rs 1.124 lakh crores for 2018-19 from Rs 1.054 lakh crores. The ministry estimated a total expenditure of Rs 1.09 lakh crores in the financial year 2018-19. “The government is committed to the overall development of the country and like the current year, the Modi government has allocated highest ever amount of Rs 55,000 crores to the MNREGA for the next fiscal,” Tomar said. While the 2017-18 budget allocated Rs 48,000 crores to MNREGA, the 2018-19 budget increased it to Rs 55,000 crores. The ministry estimated that the scheme will need a spending of Rs 55,000 crores in the year 2018-19. Also the allocation of funds to different schemes under the National Social Assistance Program rose up to Rs 99.75 crores from Rs 95 crores allocated during the last fiscal year. The allocation towards the flagship scheme of the NDA government for rural roads ‘<keyword id="126970" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pradhan-Mantri-Gram-Sadak-Yojana">Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana</keyword> (PMGSY)’ remained unchanged over the two budgets remaining at Rs 19,000 crores. While talking about the proposals as part of the 2018-19 budget, Jaitley highlighted about the government’s intention to augment the agriculture and rural development along with the developments across other sectors. He said, “As my proposals outlined indicate, focus of the government next year will be on providing maximum livelihood opportunities in rural areas by spending more on livelihood, agriculture and allied activities and construction of rural infrastructure.” Pushing it up significantly from Rs 4,500 crores (2017-18 budget), Jaitley said the allocation for the <keyword id="180113" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Rural-Livelihood-Mission">National Rural Livelihood Mission</keyword> (NRLM) was increased to Rs 5,750 crores in the 2018-19 budget. The loans given to the women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the country touched about Rs 42,500 crores in 2016-17. The government voiced its confidence that the SHG loans will increase to Rs 75,000 crores in the fiscal year 2018-19. However, the budget allocation for the rural <keyword id="35061" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="housing">housing</keyword> scheme PMGAY (Gramin) came down significantly to Rs 21,000 crores for the year 2018-19 from Rs 23,000 crores allocated in the 2017-18 budget.

How budget allocations for rural development in India fare

New Delhi, Amid the coronavirus pandemic when the pace of manufacturing and services sector came to a grinding halt, <keyword id="6355165" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture">agriculture</keyword> and allied sectors in India have picked up pace as the country saw the strength of the farm sector. The <keyword id="26362" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Government">government</keyword> also took care of a large population of the country related to agriculture and farming and enacted new laws to intensify the winds of improvement in the agricultural sector. The <keyword id="6358021" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget">Budget</keyword> 2021-22 is going to be presented in <keyword id="6354721" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="parliament">Parliament</keyword> on Monday, amid wrangling over agricultural reform. In such a situation, it is expected that the Modi government, which claims to give priority to the progress of villages, the poor and <keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers">farmers</keyword>, will also give priority to agriculture and rural development in the upcoming Budget. According to the Economic Review 2020-21, while the industry and services sectors are projected to fall by 9.6 per cent and 8.8 per cent, respectively, in the current financial year, the growth rate of agriculture and allied sectors can remain at 3.4 per cent. The agriculture and allied sectors recorded a growth rate of 3.4 per cent at constant prices during FY 2020-21 (first advance estimate). The Modi government's priority has been to double the income of farmers by 2022 and to develop basic facilities in villages including 'pucca' houses for all the poor in the country. Therefore, with a view to achieving these goals, the budgetary allocation of major schemes of agriculture and rural development sector can be expected to increase in the upcoming Budget. A senior official of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said that farmers' awareness about all the schemes of agriculture sector including Prime Minister <keyword id="7283018" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kisan-samman-nidhi">Kisan Samman Nidhi</keyword> (PM-KISAN) is continuously increasing and the benefits of these schemes are beginning to be seen at the ground level. The government will also focus on the scheme to provide short-term agricultural loans to farmers at affordable interest rates. Other schemes of the agriculture sector, including the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme, the Prime Minister Agricultural Irrigation Scheme, can also be given importance in this budget. Agricultural economists point out that along with agriculture, the government will give prominence to the plans of the food processing industry, which will help in achieving the goal of doubling the income of farmers. Major schemes for the development of villages proved to be very helpful in providing employment opportunities to the workers migrating from the cities during the corona period. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), in addition to providing employment to the daily wage labourers in the villages, proved to be crucial in the development of basic infrastructure in the villages, which was called an opportunity in disaster and under the self-sufficient India package. Experts say that in the upcoming Budget also, other rural development schemes including MNREGA can be increased. The budgetary allocation of MNREGA was ₹61,500 crore in 2020-21, but under the self-sufficient package in the corona era, an additional allocation of ₹40,000 crore was made for the scheme. Farmers have been agitating for more than two months on the borders of Delhi to repeal the new agricultural laws and to demand a legal guarantee for the purchase of crops at the minimum support price (MSP). Agricultural experts point out that MSP is a big issue in the farmers' movement, so some announcement can be expected in the Budget regarding MSP as well. Union Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> will present the General Budget of the upcoming financial year 2021-22 in Parliament on Monday. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/article/the-many-marvels-of-satpura-biosphere-reserve/articleshow/80598269.cms">The many marvels of Satpura Biosphere Reserve in Madhya Pradesh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/india-travel-and-tourism-sector-is-hoping-that-the-budget-2021-wont-leave-them-behind/articleshow/80596702.cms">India’s travel and tourism sector is hoping that the Budget won’t leave them behind</a>

Rural poor, farmers' progress to be government's priority :Budget 2021

<keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> has accused <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> of ignoring the poor by introducing bullet trains that "only people with suit-boot" can afford. 
 
He also pointed a finger at the BJP governments at the Centre and in Chhattisgarh for allegedly acquiring land for development, but the benefits are not reaped by the poor. 
 
"We do not want such development," he announced. 
 
Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of visiting tribal and poor areas during elections to seek votes, and not otherwise. 
 
"I can write it down, he (Modi) will not come here before elections. When he comes, he will say 'we have brought good days. We can bring more good days so vote for us again'," Gandhi said addressing a rally. 
 
Gandhi said Modi, "who wears a Rs 15 lakh suit," prefers to travel to foreign destinations instead. 
 
"If Modiji takes off his Rs 15 lakh suit and comes here to these villages, he will see the value of MNREGA," he said. 
 
He further charged that the Prime Minister repeatedly talks of 'acche din' and 'vikas' (development), but not of the poor. "I don't understand what kind of development is this," said Gandhi. 
 
Gandhi claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh was doing a Modi at the state level. 
 
(Image credit: Indiatimes)

Rahul Gandhi slams Modi for introducing bullet trains for
'suit-boot' people

New Delhi, Dec 12 () A parliamentary panel on Thursday rapped the government for slow pace of modernisation of 22,000 village haats across the country and asked it to set a deadline for revamping rural marketplaces.
The panel also suggested the government to take steps towards making the scheme of modernising village haats 'GrAM' as a fully funded central scheme.
It also asked the government to take urgent steps for setting up of a committee of state agriculture ministers for early adoption of Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Market Committee (APML) Act, 2017.
Placing its report in the Lok Sabha, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture headed by BJP member P C Gaddigoudar said: "The committee is astonished to know that none of revamped and modernised gramin haats has been inaugurated so far".
The committee is of the view that gramin haats have potential to change the face of marketing of agriculture produce in the country and can significantly enhance the income of farmers.
"The committee, therefore, desire the department (of agriculture) to take all the necessary steps to enhance the pace of modernisation of gramin haats across the country and set a deadline for each state," the report said.
The report was on the action taken by the government on the recommendation of the panel on the issue of agriculture marketing and gramin haats.
The panel had recommended the government to finalise procedural formalities for early implementation of GrAM scheme, enhance number of gramin haats being targeted for modernisation under the scheme and ensure presence of one gramin haat in each panchayat in the country, besides exempting such haats from state APMC regulations.
Stating that the governments' replies were not satisfying, the committee said the Union Agriculture Ministry has informed that it is undertaking questionnaire-based survey of these haats, and so far survey of more than 11,000 rural haats have already been completed. The survey results has been shared with the Rural Development Ministry for development of basic infrastructure through MNREGA scheme by states.
Further, the ministry informed that it has circulated guidelines to all states and union territories to facilitate and promote better management in GrAMs and requested states to exempt the GrAMs from state APMC regulations, the committee said in the report.
The ministry has also informed that the physical infrastructure is being strengthened through MNREGA scheme and the government has also approved an Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund (AMIF) with a corpus of Rs 2,000 crore with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for developing and upgrading agriculture marketing infrastructure in 10,000 gramin haats and 585 APMC markets, it added.
With regard to funding for gramin haat modernisation, the committee said the availability of central government funds is necessary for expeditious completion of works under the GrAM scheme as "indecisiveness" of state governments regarding financing of works for such haats will delay the ambitious project.
"The committee, therefore, once again reiterate to make 'GrAMs scheme' as the fully funded central scheme," the report said.
In the 2018-19 Budget, the government had announced development and upgradation of existing 22,000 village haats to GrAMs.
With regard to the model APLM Act, the committee said it is anguished to note that despite specific recommendation, the government has not taken any step for constitution of a committee of state agriculture ministers in order to arrive at a consensus and chalk out legal framework for marketing of agriculture produce in the country.
"Unless urgent steps are not taken to reform platform for agriculture marketing and specifically APMC, farmers of our country will not be able to get remunerative pricing for their produce," the committee said and urged the government to take initiative in this regard without any further delay.
The government has informed that so far Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have adopted the law while Punjab has done it partially. And other states are at varied stages in the process of adoption, it added. LUX BAL

You Searched For "MNREGA" and got 9 results

Aadhar card the most widely held identification document with enrolment of 92 crore people

BI India Bureau

Arun Jaitley dispels deficient monsoon fears, Rural Ministry revamps MNREGA

BI India Bureau

Tax breaks, an urban MNREGA and other budget ideas from one of India's top fund managers

Business Insider India

Rural India is seeing faster economic recovery than urban, this report shows why

BI India Partner

Govt to provide 5 kg grains, 1 kg pulses for free over next 3 months: FM

PTI

How budget allocations for rural development in India fare

BI India Bureau

Rural poor, farmers' progress to be government's priority :Budget 2021

IANS

Rahul Gandhi slams Modi for introducing bullet trains for 'suit-boot' people

BI India Bureau

Par panel raps govt for slow pace of 22,000 village haats modernisation

PTI

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides