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Wooing the middle class ahead of the general elections, Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Thursday announced a scheme to help those living in rented accommodations or slums to acquire a house. Parallely, she also announced building 2 crore more houses for the rural poor in the next five years under the continuing <keyword id="3905678" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Awas-Yojana" source="Orion">PM Awas Yojana</keyword> (Grameen). Presenting a vote on account for 2024-25, also known as interim budget for the period till the new government comes into office after general elections, she said the Modi government in the last 10 years has endeavoured to provide each a house, water, electricity, cooking gas and bank account as part of the inclusive development. "Our government will launch a scheme to help deserving sections of the middle class 'living in rented houses, or slums, or chawls and unauthorized colonies' to buy or build their own houses," she said. The finance minister highlighted that the implementation of the PM Awas Yojana (Grameen) continued despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Despite the challenges due to COVID, implementation of PM Awas Yojana (Grameen) continued and we are close to achieving the target of three crore houses. Two crore more houses will be taken up in the next five years to meet the requirement arising from increase in the number of families," she said. In order to achieve the target of 'Housing for All' in rural areas, the <keyword id="19910940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-rural-development" source="keywords">Ministry of Rural Development</keyword> is implementing Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) with effect from 1st April 2016 to provide assistance to eligible rural households. The overall target is to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by March 2024. The central assistance under PMAY-G is released directly to the State/UT considering the State/UT as a unit. Further release of these funds to beneficiaries in various Districts/Blocks/GPs is done by the respective State Government/UT Administration. "The amount of Central Share of funds released to the States/UTs for construction of houses under PMAY-G during the last five years, which is from the financial year 2018-19 to 2022-23 was around Rs 1,60,853.38 crore," according to an official statement in December.

Govt to launch scheme to help middle class buy or build own house; 2 cr more rural houses

The <keyword id="151047" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rural-development-ministry" source="Orion">rural development ministry</keyword> has sought additional funds of about Rs 25,000 crore for the <keyword id="145241" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MGNREGS" source="Orion">MGNREGS</keyword>, in a clear indication of a rise in demand for work, sources said on Tuesday. The ministry has sought Rs 25,000 crore from the finance ministry and it is expected that the funds will be allocated by the second week of this month, the sources said. In the <keyword id="6360189" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="union-budget" source="Orion">Union Budget</keyword> for 2022-23, an amount of Rs 73,000 crore was allocated for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Of this amount, about Rs 54,000 crore have been allocated to the states so far, the sources said. About 181 crore person days of work has also been generated under the programme so far, they added. The total expenditure on the MGNREGS is expected to touch the last financial year's level of Rs 98,000 crore. The government would take Parliament's approval for the additional fund allocation under the MNREGA through the first batch of the Supplementary <keyword id="15401700" type="TOPIC" weightage="60" keywordseo="Demands-for-Grants" source="TOPIC" sourcekeytype="budget,investopedia" meta.keywordsubtype="null" meta.seopath="d/demands-for-grants" meta.entityname="Demands for Grants" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="demands-for-grants">Demands for Grants</keyword> to be tabled in the upcoming winter session. The MGNREGS aims at enhancing the livelihood security of households in the rural areas of the country by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household, the adult members of which volunteer to do unskilled manual work. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/gst-collections-touch-151718-cr-in-oct-second-highest-since-april/articleshow/95225501.cms">GST collections touch ₹1,51,718 cr in Oct, second highest since April</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/pakistans-forex-reserves-are-close-to-nil-says-local-newspaper-dawn/articleshow/95224526.cms">Pakistan's forex reserves are close to nil, says local newspaper Dawn</a>

Rural development ministry seeks additional funds of ₹25,000 crore for MGNREGS

Budget announcements for the <keyword id="22541837" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marine-sector" source="keywords">marine sector</keyword> such as rationalisation of customs duties and financing facilities will help boost the country's India's <keyword id="20765822" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aquaculture" source="keywords">aquaculture</keyword> and <keyword id="20765821" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="seafood-exports" source="keywords">seafood exports</keyword>, <keyword id="22541838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MPEDA" source="keywords">MPEDA</keyword> said on Thursday. The <keyword id="181386" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Marine-Products-Export-Development-Authority" source="Orion">Marine Products Export Development Authority</keyword> (MPEDA) also said the Budget includes a range of strategic measures aimed at bolstering the competitiveness of marine products, with a particular focus on <keyword id="22541839" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shrimp-production" source="keywords">shrimp production</keyword> and export. Various inputs used in the manufacture of shrimp and <keyword id="22526510" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fish-feed" source="keywords">fish feed</keyword> will now enjoy customs duty exemptions, it said adding a number of feed inputs such as mineral and vitamin pre-mixes, krill meal, fish lipid oil, crude fish oil, algal prime, algal oil are fully exempted from any import duty. Artemia and Artemia cysts which are key nutritional inputs in aqua hatchery were also fully exempted from any import duty. The Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on essential aquafarm/ hatchery inputs such as Vannamei and black tiger broodstock, polychaete worms, and fish/shrimp feed has been reduced to 5 per cent. Import duty for insect meal and single-cell protein has been cut down to 5 per cent. "These announcements made in the Union Budget 2024-25 are set to significantly enhance aquaculture and seafood export sectors," the authority said. It also said that the government has committed to providing substantial financial support to establish a network of <keyword id="22541840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nucleus-Breeding-Centres" source="keywords">Nucleus Breeding Centres</keyword> (NBCs) for shrimp broodstocks. "This initiative is anticipated to drastically reduce India's reliance on imported broodstock, potentially saving the industry up to Rs 150 crore annually," it said adding hatchery operators are expected to benefit significantly, with projected savings of 50 per cent on broodstock costs. About one lakh farmers will benefit from a 30 per cent reduction in shrimp seed costs. Further, it said the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will play a crucial role in facilitating financing for <keyword id="20342132" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shrimp-farming" source="keywords">shrimp farming</keyword>, processing, and export. "This intervention is designed to cover 80 per cent of project costs for farmers, accompanied by an interest subvention of up to 3 per cent," MPEDA said. It added that a total of 639 export processing units are expected to benefit from enhanced access to infrastructure development funds, enabling them to improve and expand their facilities through assistance from NABARD. DV Swamy, Chairman of MPEDA, said that the proposed measures will substantially lower production costs, elevate quality, and enhance the international competitiveness of Indian marine products. The marine products sector has been a vital contributor to India's export earnings, with seafood exports reaching an all-time high of over Rs 60,000 crore in the last financial year. The authority was established in 1972 under the Ministry of Commerce and it is responsible for the development of the marine products industry with a special focus on exports.

Budget proposals for marine sector to boost India's seafood exports, aquaculture: MPEDA

<keyword id="46436" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rec" source="Orion">REC</keyword> Ltd has been accorded the status of a 'Maharatna' central public sector enterprise (<keyword id="175867" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="cpse" source="Orion">CPSE</keyword>), thus giving it greater operational and financial autonomy. An order to this effect was issued by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Finance, on Wednesday. Incorporated in 1969, REC is a non-banking finance company (NBFC), focussing on power sector financing and development across <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. It comes under the aegis of Power Ministry. The granting of 'Maharatna' status to REC will impart enhanced powers to the company's board while taking financial decisions, a company statement said. The board of a 'Maharatna' CPSE can make equity investments to undertake financial joint ventures and wholly-owned subsidiaries and undertake mergers and acquisitions in India and abroad, subject to a ceiling of 15 per cent of the net worth of the CPSE concerned, limited to Rs 5,000 crore in one project. The board can also structure and implement schemes relating to personnel and human resource management and training. With this, REC can also enter into technology joint ventures or other strategic alliances among others. Chairman and Managing Director of REC, <keyword id="765" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vivek" source="Orion">Vivek</keyword> <keyword id="15053160" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kumar-dewangan" source="Orion">Kumar Dewangan</keyword> said that REC achieved this feat owing to its adaptability, resilience and consistent performance even during the global Covid-19 pandemic. "In FY22, REC made its highest ever net profit of Rs 10,046 crore and reached a net worth of Rs 50,986 crore, owing to its cost-effective resource management and strong financial policies," he said. REC (earlier known as <keyword id="64468" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rural-electrification-corporation" source="Orion">Rural Electrification Corporation</keyword>) has contributed towards achieving village and household electrification in the country. Some key Maharatna CPSEs in India are ONGC, NTPC, Indian Oil Corporation and BHEL, among others. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/rupee-slumps-51-paise-to-all-time-low-of-80-47-against-us-dollar/articleshow/94367387.cms">Rupee slumps 51 paise to all-time low of 80.47 against US dollar</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/dot-proposes-fee-penalty-waiver-under-new-telecom-rules/articleshow/94367368.cms">DoT proposes fee, penalty waiver under new telecom rules</a>

REC gets 'Maharatna' company status

The government is considering the launch of micro-credit programme which would provide easy loans to rural households, helping them out of poverty. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Startup-India-Standup-India-goes-to-rural-poor/articleshow/51580701.cms">Unemployed rural-poor to get desi version of ‘Startup India, Standup India’, fulfil entrepreneurial dreams</a> As per the plan, the government would lend up to Rs 1 lakh per family in the coming three to five years, and the loans would be provided at subsidised interest rates of 4 to 7%, without any security deposit. "We have simplified the process for accessing loans... We are getting into the details of livelihood each house can undertake so that the money can be lent accordingly," rural development secretary Amarjeet Sinha told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/government-planning-an-easy-credit-scheme-for-rural-households/articleshow/58250161.cms?from=mdr">ET</a>. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/government-to-use-scientific-methods-to-implement-social-welfare-schemes-and-fight-poverty/articleshow/56327314.cms">Government to use scientific methods to implement social welfare schemes and fight poverty</a> By 2019, an amount of Rs 60,000 crore per year would be linked to nearly 8.5 crore households that were identified poor in the <keyword id="1037822" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Socio-Economic-and-Caste-Census">Socio Economic and Caste Census</keyword>. By doing this, the government wishes to lessen their reliance on local moneylenders and <keyword id="411605" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Microfinance-companies">microfinance companies</keyword>, since these lenders charge high interest rates as compared to the rate of 11% charged by banks. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the <keyword id="151047" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rural-Development-Ministry">rural development ministry</keyword> and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/Modi-govt-launches-its-biggest-land-reform-legalizes-landleasing/articleshow/51812636.cms">agriculture</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/latest/govt-puts-focus-on-animalhusbandry-poultry-and-fisheries-todouble-farmers-income/articleshow/57109382.cms">animal husbandry</a> ministry, which would ease the loan process to such households for activities including tilling and setting up of poultry farms and goat sheds. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/100-youngsters-to-turn-barefoot-engineers-soon-to-better-farm-productivity/articleshow/47583052.cms">100 youngsters to turn ‘barefoot engineers’ soon to better farm productivity</a>

Government is planning easy loans for rural households

While the Indian economy grows tremendously every year with the increase in working population, there continues to be a wide gap between the skilled labour force and the employment opportunities available. According to a 2014 <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> report, India has the world’s largest youth population of 356 million 10-24-year-olds and by 2020, India is expected to become the world’s youngest country. As 68.8% of Indians live in the rural areas, the problem of underemployment looms one of the fastest growing countries in the world. <keyword id="6653" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> through their <keyword id="6354502" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="CSR">CSR</keyword> division <keyword id="339601" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Foundation">ICICI Foundation</keyword> is actively trying to close this gap in by focusing on <keyword id="2840939" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Skilling-India">Skilling India</keyword> before Making in India. ICICI is trying to reach the very last mile to train the underprivileged youth across the length and breadth of the country, and these programs have already trained approximately 2,00,000 individuals to achieve their dreams. Uplifting a community One such individual is <keyword id="6162243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="arjun-solanki">Arjun Solanki</keyword> who had to let go of his education at the young age of 14 when he lost his father to tuberculosis in the small village of Baroda Sindhi, near Indore, <keyword id="6355554" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</keyword>, His life took a tough turn and while his friends went to school every morning, Arjun would head to fields and building sites to find work. His family depended on him for their daily bread and he was forced to look for work every day for survival. So, when Arjun’s friend Shravan advised him to take up a two-month paint application course to enable him to find better employment, he was willing to learn. The free-of-charge course was held at <keyword id="2974508" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Academy-of-Skills">ICICI Academy of Skills</keyword> where Solanki was enrolled for a two-month period while his elder brother supported the family during that time. At that time, Solanki didn’t realize that his life was about to change; he not just learnt how to paint immaculately but also learnt how to work in a formal organization by emulating soft skills like how to talk to potential clients, and gain trust to close work contracts. Arjun’s hard work and persistence paid off when Rajesh Roshan, a painting contractor from Indore hired him and promoted him from a supervisor to a subcontractor in just ten months! He now gets contracts regularly and has gained popularity amongst his peers for his success. Solanki realizes how the skill training changed his life and now has higher ambitions than ever before. Arjun has uplifted his family from poverty and bought them a pukka house in the village. Not just that, he has even put a borewell outside his home for the community use and has inspired the villagers to pursue skill training courses. From struggling to earn Rs. 100 a day looking for labour work, Solanki is now employing trained youths from the Academy of Skills who work alongside him on considerable painting contracts. When he entered the <keyword id="6162242" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="icici-skill-academy">ICICI Skill Academy</keyword>, he was not aware at the time that he will be able to build a beautiful life for himself, his family and his community. <div type="Youtube" id="hdmzwrkmh3o" title="ICICI Bank - Corporate Social Responsibility - Arjun Solanki" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hdmzwrkmh3o/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

 People who enter the industries, currently have limited understanding of the business they are entering therefore targeted initiatives focused on particular skills can help train individuals better for taking up any job. ICICI has designed several programmes under the Skill Development initiative that provide trainees with industry-relevant vocational skills. ICICI Academy for Skills (IAS) The ICICI Academy for Skills offers training in 11 technical and office skills and the courses are specially crafted for underprivileged youth between the ages of 18 and 30 years. It has trained over 79,000 candidates through its 24 centres free-of-cost. To ensure best-in-class skill training programmes, the Academy has partnered with various industry leaders as knowledge partners to co-create the course curriculum and content and has also set-up laboratories for imparting practical training. Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) As part of a national programme initiated by the <keyword id="386230" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Rural-Development">Ministry of Rural Development</keyword> (MoRD), ICICI has set up Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) in Udaipur and Jodhpur. This programme focuses on providing free vocational training in locally-relevant skills that empower villagers to be self-reliant. The initiative also promotes entrepreneurship and development of micro-enterprises by providing loans. ICICI RSETIs offer 38 programmes and over 61,000 individuals have been trained at RSETIs. RSETIs offer 2-4 weeks courses for underprivileged rural people in the age group of 18-45 years. ICICI also makes sure that the needs of local employers are mapped to design relevant courses under the rural initiative that are customised to suit the local requirements with a focus on practical execution of skills. All the trainees are additionally oriented on life skills, financial literacy and workplace organisation (Five S) to ensure a holistic learning experience. The ICICI Foundation has tied up with a large number of industry partners to provide employment opportunities to their trainees. The trainees have been placed in over 1000 companies including Eureka Forbes, Daikin, Bluestar among others. ICICI Foundation also promotes self-employment and encourages trainees to set up their own micro-enterprises like Arjun Solanki who has become self reliant after a two-month skill training course. <a href="https://www.icicibank.com/csr/index.html?utm_source=business_insider&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=csr2017&amp;utm_content=skill-development-business-insider-article" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by ICICI Bank </a>

Here’s how a free skill training course uplifted a daily-wage worker out of poverty

New Delhi, The Centre on Saturday said that all states except Tamil Nadu have availed benefits of "Special Assistance to States for <keyword id="112324" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="capital-expenditure">Capital Expenditure</keyword>". The scheme is aimed at boosting capital expenditure by the state governments, who are facing a difficult financial environment this year due to the shortfall in tax revenue arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to <keyword id="9291953" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-ministry-of-finance">the Ministry of Finance</keyword>, capital expenditure has a <keyword id="10421981" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-multiplier-effect">higher multiplier effect</keyword>, enhancing the future productive capacity of the economy, and results in a higher rate of economic growth. "Therefore, despite the adverse financial position of the <keyword id="6357307" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Government">central government</keyword>, it was decided to extend a special assistant to the state governments in respect of capital expenditure, in the financial year 2020-21," "The scheme has got very warm response from the state governments. So far capital expenditure proposals of Rs 9,879.61 crore of 27 States have been approved by the Ministry of Finance." As per the statement, an amount of Rs 4,939.81 crore has already been released to the states as the first instalment under the scheme. "The capital expenditure projects have been approved in diverse sectors of economy like, 'Health, Rural Development, Water Supply, Irrigation, Power, Transport, Education, <keyword id="111319" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Urban-development">Urban Development</keyword>'." Besides, the scheme has three parts of which the first covers the north-eastern region. "Under this part, Rs 200 crores is allocated to seven north-eastern states. In view of higher population and geographical area, Assam has been allocated Rs 450 crores under the scheme," The second part of the scheme for all other states that are not included in part-I. "An amount of Rs 7,500 crores is earmarked for this part. This amount has been allocated amongst these states in proportion to their share of central tax as per the interim award of <keyword id="9256069" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-15th-finance-commission">the 15th Finance Commission</keyword> for the year 2020-21," In addition, the third part of the scheme is aimed at pushing various citizen-centric reforms in the states. "Under this part, an amount of Rs 2,000 crores is earmarked. This amount will be available only to those states who carry out at least 3 out of the 4 reforms specified by the Ministry of Finance in its letter dated 17th May, 2020 regarding reform linked additional borrowing permissions." Accordingly, the four reforms are - 'One Nation One Ration Card, Ease of doing Business Reform, Urban Local Body pr Utility Reform and Power Sector Reform'. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-irctc-hdfc-bank-tcs-tvs-motor-dalmia-bharat-ultratech-acc-ambuja-and-others/articleshow/79672813.cms">Top stocks to watch — IRCTC, HDFC Bank, TCS, TVS Motor, Dalmia Bharat, UltraTech, ACC, Ambuja, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/best-smartphones-of-2020-in-india/slidelist/79675101.cms">Best smartphones of 2020 in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/reports-suggest-that-tata-adani-and-hinduja-group-are-interested-in-air-india-divestment-plan/articleshow/79675955.cms">Last date for Air India divestment plan nears — reports suggest that Tata, Adani and Hinduja Group are interested</a>

All states except Tamil Nadu availed special capital expenditure scheme: Centre

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, Feb 1 () Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday hailed the Budget 2020 saying adequate fund to the tune of Rs 1.60 lakh crore has been allocated for agriculture and its allied sector including irrigation for the next fiscal.
 A 16-point action plan has been chalked out for realising the target of doubling farmers' income by 2022, he said, adding that several schemes like PM-Kisan are being implemented are benefitting the farming community.
 "The government's focus has been 'Gaon, gareeb and kisan' and the focus in the Budget on providing better facilities to this section reinforces the government's commitment of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas," Tomar said in a statement.
 Rs 1.60 lakh crore has been allocated for the agriculture and its allied sector, and Rs 1.23 lakh crore for the rural development, he added.
 Tomar, who is also rural development minister, said the Budget 2020 proposes to give relief to women and middle class people as the focus has been on addressing issues related to health, education, skill development and clean water.
 He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for allocating sufficient funds for both agriculture and rural development ministries. LUX ANS
ANS

Agri Min says adequate funds given for farm, rural development in FY21

The government is now opting for a more scientific way for implementing social welfare programmes in a move to tackle poverty better by weeding out underserving beneficiaries. 
 The government will be adopting the Socio-Economic and <keyword id="147447" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Caste-census">Caste Census</keyword> (SECC) instead of the poverty line-based method to identify recipients for its pro-poor schemes. The SECC 2011 ranks households based on their socio-economic status to enable state governments to prepare a list of families living below the poverty line. It also makes available information regarding the socio-economic condition and education status of various castes and sections of the population. 
 SECC 2011 will be used by the <keyword id="386230" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Rural-Development">Ministry of Rural Development</keyword> from this year for its <keyword id="673406" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Social-Assistance-Programme">National Social Assistance Programme</keyword> to pay pension to rural poor and National Rural Livelihood Mission. Both schemes use <keyword id="49514" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="bpl">BPL</keyword> data to estimate the number of the poor. 
 
"BPL data tells us how many are poor and SECC who are those poor... it is a more targeted and scientific approach in ensuring the right person gets the benefit,” a senior official told ET. 
 To study the validity and efficiency of the SECC 2011 data, a <keyword id="3040491" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sumit-Bose-committee">Sumit Bose Committee</keyword> formed. It will look over the data that identify the poor recently submitted its report, which is in favour of using the information for rural development schemes. The committee also developed a formula based on deprivation parameters to identify beneficiaries for specific schemes. 
 
The greater the deprivation score, the higher will be the ranking of a household for getting government assistance. The government is also identifying workers under the national rural employment guarantee scheme who have reported deprivation in the SECC study. 
 In March 2016, the ministry amended the <keyword id="71242" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indira-Awaas-Yojana">Indira Awaas Yojana</keyword>, now called the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin, and changed the selection criterion of beneficiaries from "below poverty line, to the SECC 2011data. 
 
"To ensure assistance is targeted at those who are genuinely deprived and the selection is objective and verifiable, PMAY-G, instead of selecting a beneficiary from among the BPL households, selects beneficiaries using SECC-2011data,, according to the framework for the scheme. Other government departments including health and electricity are also inclined to use SECC data.

Government to use scientific methods to implement social welfare schemes and fight poverty

<ul><li>The Indian Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (<keyword id="396523" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="MPLADS">MPLADS</keyword>) is being questioned over massive reserves of funds going unutilised.</li><li>This funds are ideally meant to serve local social works or public projects to address the infrastructural disparities of development. </li><li>The <keyword id="6390205" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="central-information-commission">Central Information Commission</keyword> (<keyword id="6378909" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cic">CIC</keyword>) has recommended maintaining proper records to enable <keyword id="6434802" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="transparency">transparency</keyword> and accountability in the scheme.</li></ul>A scheme that was originally envisioned in 1993 has hit a snag with the Indian Central Information Commission (CIC) pointing that <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cic-seeks-details-transparency-in-mplads/articleshow/65836153.cms">funds have remained unutilised</a>. In fact, resources to the tune of ₹12 billion of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) are lying unspent. According to the <a href="https://www.mplads.gov.in/mplads/uploadedfiles/AnnualReport2015-16E_38.pdf">Annual Report</a> published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme (<keyword id="396179" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="MOSPI">MoSPI</keyword>) Implementation, 91.11% cumulative utilisation of funds occurred as of 31 March, 2016. But M Sridhar Acharyulu, the Information Commissioner, presented two 56-page orders that strongly differed from that report. The orders from the CIC noted that MoSPI had not been maintaining proper records of asset creation and is heavily dependent on the district authorities for utilisation certificates in order to release more funds. Instead, the CIC has recommended that MoSPI should publish fund information by MP, constituency and work, along with the names of the beneficiaries to enable transparency in the system. It would also bring to light the reasons for delay with respect to projects and works being implemented under the scheme. This comes as a response to complaints made by certain constituents who were unable to enquire about works undertaken by former MP members in their district. Not the first time This isn’t the first instance of the scheme coming under scrutiny. In 1999, the Standing Committee on <keyword id="25455" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance">Finance</keyword> pointed to lapses in implementation. And then in 2002, the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution put forward the idea that MPLADS should be discontinued entirely because it was a cause of disparity of power distribution between the centre and the state. While the constitutionality of the MPLAD scheme is no longer in question after the ruling of May 2010 by the Supreme Court, problems relating to the underlying efficacy of the scheme still remain. The whole point of the scheme is to address the inequality in infrastructural development from state to state. But the scheme’s fund utilisation and project completion show high variations geographically. Importance of transparency The scheme, in its intention, is not at fault. It actually performs an integral function of connecting MPs to their constituents. But, that can only hold true if the scheme is transparent. As of now, there are <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/research/mplad-scheme-need-to-work-on-loopholes/">reports</a> that MPs don’t even pass on recommendations to the District Authorities following which the District Authorities fail to send back accurate reports and fail at regular monitoring of assets to the government. Transparency isn’t only important for the sake of ensuring that projects are executed but it’s also to ensure that funds aren’t spent on projects that are prohibited under the scheme. And, a better understanding of how funds are flowing can allow the system to recognise weakness and clogs in the process of sanctions. Recommendations can be made accordingly to address the problem of efficacy. If, at the day of the day, funds are lying unspent,then maybe they would serve a greater purpose if they are put to use elsewhere.

India's controversial district development scheme, MPLADS, comes under the CIC scanner

<keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian Government</keyword>’s ambitious plan to convert its ministries into <keyword id="853856" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="e-office">e-office</keyword> has hit a hurdle. Two big hurdles are excessive <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=youtube&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">YouTube</a> videos viewing in offices that clog the bandwidth and small computer monitors allotted to junior officials that hamper their ability to see digitized files. 
 
The issue surfaced at a workshop when <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=+rural+development+ministry&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">the Rural Development Ministry</a>, which became the first one to become an e-office, was holding a session on how to digitize files and move to a <keyword id="3636242" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paper-less-office">paper-less office</keyword> and showed them how to scan a 700-page file in just six minutes and how an e-file was retrieved from the system in about five minutes. 
 During the briefing, <keyword id="151047" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rural-Development-Ministry">Rural Development Ministry</keyword> Joint Secretary <keyword id="3635237" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="santosh-mathew">Santosh Mathew</keyword> highlighted two issues in his presentation. 
 "Sufficiency of bandwidth is an issue. It is said that 30 per cent of people in government work and 70 per cent watch videos on You-Tube, choking the bandwidth. Please tell your officials that logs can be pulled out to detect who is watching how much <keyword id="10879" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="YouTube">YouTube</keyword>, this e-office will not succeed if this is not checked,” said Mathew, adding “Physical files have two sides - correspondence and the noting side. On a small monitor, a junior official is not able to see it properly. Senior officers don't have this problem as they have large monitors.” 
 
He added it was a challenge to encourage the junior officials to adopt e-office since they will end up being monitored. "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=rajpath&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Rajpath</a> has the most costly real estate in the world. It will be shame if we use it to store paper," Mathew said. 
 
(Image Credits: ET)

70% Govt employees watching YouTube videos in office are choking e-office project. Here’s how

He’s been a Member of Parliament, and held key ministerial posts from 2006-2014. He’s handled <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Rural+Development">Rural Development</a>, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Environment and Forests, Commerce and Power. He has also been an advisor to the then Prime Minister and Finance Minister. He has served in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Planning+Commission">Planning Commission</a>, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Advisory+Board+on+Energy">Advisory Board on Energy</a> and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ministry+of+Industry">Ministry of Industry</a>. He is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Jairam+Ramesh">Jairam Ramesh</a>. 
 
Business Insider caught up with Mr. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Jairam+Ramesh">Ramesh</a> on the sidelines of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet, and got chatting about <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=startups">startups</a>, development, and the environment. 
 
What’s you take on Mr. Modi’s startup policy? 
This is another excellent marketing gimmick. Between 2004-2014, there were 200 startups and $50 billion coming as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=VC+funds">VC funds</a>. India became the third largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and Israel. Now Mr. Modi has suddenly discovered the importance of startups. 
 
The most important point is that he’s avoided the issue of net neutrality. If <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Facebook">Facebook</a> is going to determine what India views, the startup ecosystem can’t last. 
 
You’ve said Mr. Modi is delaying the <keyword id="387846" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="GST-Bill">GST Bill</keyword>. Why do you say that? 
There is a broad consensus that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=GST">GST</a> should come. The Congress introduced it back in March 2011. Mr. Modi single-handedly subverted the bill for 3 years. Now he’s become Prime Minister, and the greatest champion of the Bill. 
 
The BJP wants a pro-industry <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=GST">GST</a>. We want a pro-people one. We’ve made suggestions. Let’s hope they consider our advice. 
 
You’ve also said that Mr. Jaitley has showed how not to handle the economy. What according to you is going wrong? 
Exports have fallen for 13 months in a row, industrial production is at its worst in 4 years, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Consumer+Price+Inflation">Consumer Price Inflation</a> is at its peak in 15 months. The Rupee was at Rs. 58/Dollar when Mr. Modi came into power. It’s currently Rs. 68/Dollar. Even the Stock Markets which were very gung ho when Mr. Modi became Prime Minister are stagnant. All the indicators of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=economic+progress">economic progress</a> paint a bleak picture. 
 
Oil prices have crashed from $120/Barrel to $20/Barrel. In spite of that you’ve not shown results, which shows he has worked hard to mismanage the economy. 
 
Do you believe in the Modi government’s Growth Mantra? 
We need rapid, inclusive and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sustainable+growth">sustainable growth</a>. Growth that is slow is unacceptable, growth that is non-inclusive in unjust, and growth that is not sustainable is not doing anyone any good. 
 
How do you see this contradiction between the Growth Mantra and the Economic Indicators? 
Mr. Modi has to go beyond slogans. He’s a great marketer. He’s the best car salesman that history has ever seen. He can sell you a user car and convince you that it’s a new car. However, he has to go beyond marketing, re-branding and packing, and get into the nitty-gritty of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=economic+growth">economic growth</a>. 
 
How does the government figure out the balance between sustainable development and technological advancement? 
The choices and trade-offs that we make are going to determine the extent to which we’re able to bring the two together. There is a conflict between the two in the short run. However, it’s not impossible over a long time. 
 
How we manage this conflict, this trade-off is important. There is no simple formula. 
 
Do you think it’s increasingly difficult to take the environmental standpoint? 
In the last 18 months, the place for civil society has shrunk. There is growth triumphalism. You can call this ecological intolerance. 
 
Could you explain your idea of ‘Grow Now, Pay Later’ Economies? 
Most Asian economies, including China have the idea that they’ll have 20 years of growth, and worry about its consequences later. It’s the ‘Dekha jayega’ (We’ll see later) approach to economic development. 
 
Rural demand continues to be weak. How can we tap into that? Over the last 18 months, all <keyword id="6355126" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rural-Development">rural development</keyword> programmes have not seen an increase in budget. Whether it’s the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=National+Rural+Employment+Guarantee+Act">National Rural Employment Guarantee Act</a>, the National Rural Livelihood Mission, they’ve been emasculated and starved of funds. Minimum Support Prices have not increased. The net consequence of that is that the growth in wage rates has been very slow, and rural purchasing power is very weak. 
 
Your expectations from the Budget. 
I don’t have much expectation, really. 
 
Mr. Jaitley has already announced that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Corporate+Taxes">Corporate Taxes</a>, and eliminate allowances as well. Let’s see what actually happens. Fingers crossed. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Exclusive: ‘Jaitley worked hard to mismanage the economy’:
Jairam Ramesh

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)

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