1

POLICIES AND
SCHEMES
2015-2016

This Section Policies and Schemes is taken from our :

ISBN : 9789385846335
 POLICIES AND SCHEMES IN 2015-2016
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna uploading bank account details
The scheme aims at constructing and photographs.
more than two crore houses On submission of the details,
across the length and breadth customer will receive a
of the nation within a span of registration number for enquiring
next seven years. This means about the status of the new
the scheme would conclude connection with an additional
successfully in the year 2022. option of offline or online mode
The target beneficiaries of of payment for the connection.
the scheme would be poor
After the completion of payment,
and people living under EWS
an electronic subscription
and LIG categories in urban
establishments of the country. voucher will be mailed to the
new customer and a physical
The Government to provide delivery of the gas cylinder,
interest subsidy of 6.5% on
regulator with hose pipe will be
housing loans to the beneficiaries
made to the customer.
for a term of 15 years.
Houses to be constructed under The twelve cities involved under
the scheme will be allotted the scheme are Ahmedabad,
preferably in the name of the Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru,
female head of the family or in Bhopal, Chennai, Chandigarh,
the joint name of the male head Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow,
of the family. Patna, Mumbai and Pune.
Under the PMAY scheme the Smart Cities Project
ground floor will be preferably
Union Government named 98
allotted to the differently-abled
cities under the Smart Cities
and older people.
Project.
The mission encourages
adoption of modern and green Out of the total 98 cities,
technologies for faster and 13 cities were selected from
quality construction of houses Uttar Pradesh, 12 cities from
with the deployment of disaster Tamil Nadu, 10 cities from
resistant and environment Maharashtra, 7 cities from
friendly technologies. Madhya Pradesh, 3 cities each
from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
SAHAJ Scheme
The 98 cities constitute 13 crore
Under the SAHAJ scheme,
people are required to fill up people which covers around 35%
forms online for a new LPG of the urban population of India
connection and avoid visiting under the mission.
the LPG distributors. It The selected cities will receive a
involves filing the KYC form by sum of two crore rupees each for
 the execution of the smart city MGNREGA and Backward
plan with the primary aim being, Regions Grants Fund etc.
enhancement of the urban life Development of social life and
under a practical and realistic harmony to be encouraged via
approach. activities celebrating a village
The Union Government has day, formation of a village
sanctioned 48,000 crore rupees song and implementation of
with the purpose to financially alternative methods for resolving
support the project over the next disputes.
five years. The functioning of the yojana
will be ensured by web-based
Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
monitoring with an initial
(SAGY) 5-month assessment by an
Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana is independent organisation and
focused on the development of ground-level survey by the
the rural areas which involves District Collectors to monitor
social and cultural development, the progress.
and spreading motivation among
the villagers for the betterment PAHAL Scheme
of the village community. The scheme was revised and
reintroduced as PaHal in
MPs are required to adopt one
November 2014 and launched in
village each with a population
54 districts. Later on the scheme
of 3000-4000 in plains and 1000-
was implemented all over the
3000 in hills with the criteria
nation on 1 January 2015.
that the village doesnt belong to
them or their spouses. The scheme involves sale of
subsidized LPG cylinders at
The yojana requires the MPs to
market rates and consumers are
prepare a village development
allowed to collect LPG subsidy
plan and motivate the residents straight into their bank accounts.
for participation in growth
oriented activities, channelizing The process of receiving the
MPLAD funds to generate subsidy is either via the bank
account or Aadhaar linkage
further resources specifically
covering around 9.75 crore LPG
from the CSR initiatives of
consumers across the nation.
various corporate houses, in the
field of sanitation and water The schemes primary motive
supply. involves elimination of duplicate
or bogus LPG connections.
Improving upon the standard
and quality of the mid-day meal Suraksha Bandhan drive
schemes, Aadhaar enrolment, Union Government has launched
setting up smart schools with Suraksha Bandhan drive with an
IT-enabled classrooms and objective of creating a universal
e-libraries, and development social security system in the
of the infrastructure of the country, particularly for the poor
Panchayat under schemes like and the deprived sections.
 The drive will associate the the focus on creating awareness
poor and deprived sections with and capacity building for safe
social security schemes such as and hygienic food.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima The campaign complements
Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan the widely popular multi-media
Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima campaign Jago Grahak Jago
Yojana (PMJJBY). which empowers the consumers
The participating Insurance of their rights and demands.
Companies will support the Under the campaign, nationwide
respective banks to work jointly sensitisation sessions will be
towards local outreach and organized across the country on
create awareness in order to cleaning, hygiene & sanitation
facilitate enrolments during this for safe food, Walkathons
drive. and Media dissemination
People who enrol during this programmes for Consumers and
drive will be exempted from Street Food Industries.
submitting a certificate of good The ministry also launched
health for the PMJJBY. a website and a logo for the
The drive empowers people to campaign and signed a pledge for
present social security to their adoption of safe food practices.
near and dear ones in the form of
Jeevan Suraksha gift cheques of ` Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee
351 which is one-year premium Yojana (PMKSY)
for PMJJBY and PMSBY. PMKSY aims primarily at
providing irrigation facilities to
SAMANVAY portal every village in the country by
SAMANVAY web portal converging ongoing irrigation
was launched by the Union schemes implemented by various
Ministry of Rural Development ministries.
to supervise the progress The Yojana ensures protective
and execution of the Sansad irrigation to all agricultural
Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) farms in the country in order to
for development of Gram produce per drop more crop
Panchayats. ensuring rural prosperity.
The aim of the portal is to assist The scheme ensures that state
Members of Parliament (MPs) and district irrigation plans
to utilise relevant schemes in the are equipped on the basis of
planning and implementation of availability of water and agro-
SAGY. climatic conditions in the
SAMANVAY has helped in the respective regions.
documentation of around 1800 The PMKSY focuses on end-to-
state schemes from across all end solution in irrigation supply
states.
chain by implementing the new
Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan programme in a project mode
Union Government launched with decentralised state-level
Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan with planning and execution.
 PMKSY funds will be given to The application showcases 3D
states as 75% grant by the central models of Mars Orbiter Mission
government and the rest 25% (MOM), RISAT, indigenous
share is to be taken up by the rockets such as PSLV, GSLV
state government. And in case Mk-III; videos of INSAT
of the north-eastern region and 3D-predicting cyclones, MOM
hilly states, the grant would be launch and orbit insertion videos,
90:10. 360 degree animated view of
Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram MOM, GSLV D5/Cryo and
Jyoti Yojana Anaglyph of Mars surface which
are purely for representational
The scheme was launched by
and educational purposes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
with the primary aim to provide Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
247 uninterrupted electricity Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan
supply to each rural household Yojana (PMJDY) was launched
across the nation by 2022.
as a nationwide scheme by
The yojana was planned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
separate agriculture and non- on 28th August 2014 which
agriculture feeders facilitating seeks to provide a bank account
judicious rostering of supply to for every individual who does
agricultural and non-agricultural not have one.
consumers in rural areas.
The scheme facilitates the
It also seeks to strengthen the sub
account holders with a zero-
transmission and distribution
balance bank account with
infrastructure in rural areas
which includes metering RuPay debit card, with an
of transformers/feeders/ additional accidental insurance
consumers. cover of ` 1 lakh.
The scheme has the total outlay The account holders can take a
of 76,000 crore rupees for loan benefit of
execution of the projects for 5000 from the bank after an
which the Union Government interval of six months from
will provide grant of 63,000 opening of the account.
crore rupees.
The facility of mobile banking
Sakaar available for the poor through
Union Government launched an National Unified USSD
Augmented Reality technology Platform (NUUP) by the
based mobile application combined efforts of all banks
named Sakaar to showcase the and mobile companies.
achievements of the Department The scheme allows the account
of Space. holders to avail the facilities
The application is developed by of checking balance and
Development and Educational transferring funds through a
Communication Unit (DECU) normal cellphone which was
of ISRO. earlier limited to smart phones
 only, with the introduction of ` 2,037 crore for the integrated
new age technology introduced programme with the aim to
by National Payments cover 8 states, 47 towns & 12
Corporation of India (NPCI). rivers under the project.
The account holders will be Several ministries are engaged
awarded an insurance coverage with nodal Water Resources
worth ` 30000 if they comply Ministry in relation with the
with certain condition of the project including - Environment,
scheme, including opening an Urban development, Shipping,
account by 26th January, 2015 Tourism & Rural Development
and possessing an accidental Ministries with the prime focus
insurance coverage worth ` on connecting people living on
200000. the rivers banks in this project.
USTAAD Scheme The scheme also involves setting
up river centric urban planning
The USTAAD scheme was
process in order to establish
launched in order to improve
better citizens connect through
the degrading condition of the
interventions at Ghats and River
world renowned Banaras Saree
fronts along with expansion of
weavers belonging to various
sewerage infrastructure in 118
minority communities.
cities on banks of Ganga.
The Scheme seeks to upgrade
The project also involves
the Skills and Training of
ensuring ecological rejuvenation
the minority communities by
by conservation of aquatic life
preservation of their customary
and biodiversity, and side by side
ancestral Arts and Crafts.
promoting tourism and shipping
It also focuses on improving in a rational and sustainable
upon the skills of craftsmen, manner.
weavers and artisans who
are already engaged in the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti
traditional ancestral work. Bima Yojana
USTAAD also seeks to work Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti
on the skill development and Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) was
imbibing better marketing launched by the Union finance
strategies to the weavers and minister Arun Jaitley with the
artisans of traditional crafts. aim to extend life insurance
cover to people both in the cases
Namami Gange Project of natural deaths or accidents.
Namami Gange Project has been The Yojana will be available to
launched as an intergrated effort people who have an Aadhaar
by the Union Government for the number linked with a bank
conservation and improvement account and within the age
of the Ganga River. group of 18-50 years.
The Government has sanctioned The annual premium for the
a sum of scheme is ` 330 which will be
 auto-debited in one instalment The platform involves a three-tier
from the subscribers bank system which includes the PMO,
account. Union Government Secretaries,
The scheme will be primarily and Chief Secretaries of the
offered by LIC and other life States.
insurers who are willing can join The issues to be highlighted in
the scheme. front of the PM will be taken
from the available database
MUDRA Bank regarding Public Grievances, on-
Micro Units Development and going Programmes and pending
Refinance Agency Bank (or Projects.
MUDRA Bank) was launched The system will strengthen and
by the Prime Minister Narendra re-engineer the data bases of the
Modi on 8th April, 2015. CPGRAMS for grievances along
with the Project Monitoring
The primary focus of the bank
Group (PMG) and the Ministry
is to provide loans at low rates
of Statistics and Programme
to microfinance institutions Implementation.
and non-banking financial
institutions which then offer Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao
credit to MSMEs. campaign
The bank will also monitor the Union government launched one
people who have taken up loans of its most ambitious projects
Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP)
to regulate his/her activities
on 22nd January 2015 whose
if they are under any debts
prime objective is to create
and become a liability for the awareness about the diminishing
government. child sex ratio in the country.
The agencies will set up a The scheme was launched by
method using the last-mile credit Prime Minister Narendra Modi
agent scheme system for small from Panipat in Haryana.
and micro businesses. Haryana was chosen to launch
MUDRA Bank will offer the scheme due to its low sex
financing in 3 stages- Shishu, ratio i.e. 879 girls per 1000 boys,
which is below the national sex
Kishore and Tarun.
ratio that stands at 918 girls per
PRAGATI platform 1000 boys.
PRAGATI is a distinctive The campaign is to be
multipurpose platform aimed implemented in 100 districts
at addressing common mans of the country, including 12
grievances, and at the same districts of Haryana where the
time monitoring and reviewing number of girl child is drearily
important programmes and low.
projects of the Government of Centre has provided an initial
India along with the projects investment of 100 crore rupees
flagged by State Governments. for it.
HRIDAY scheme maximum age is 40 years.
Union Government launched The minimum period of
the Heritage City Development contribution by the person under
and Augmentation Yojana the scheme is 20 years or more.
(HRIDAY) on 21st January The government will contribute
2015 for the preservation and 50% to the pension fund of the
rejuvenation of the invaluable nominee for every contribution
heritage of our country. made by him/her for a period of
Urban development minister 5 years.
Shri Venkaiah Naidu launched
the scheme in New Delhi. One Rank One Pension
The Union Government gave its
` 500 crore has been sanctioned
consent for the implementation
for the HRIDAY scheme.
of One Rank One Pension
The 12 heritage cities to be (OROP) scheme for ex-
renovated and developed servicemen on 5th September
under the HRIDAY scheme 2015.
are Amritsar, Varanasi,
The scheme promises to
Gaya, Puri, Ajmer, Mathura,
provide uniform pension to ex-
Dwarka, Badami, Velankanni,
servicemen of the same rank
Kanchipuram, Warangal and
and the same length of service,
Amaravati.
regardless of their date of
HRIDAY will be working in retirement.
collaboration with Tourism
The scheme will benefit all
Ministrys Pilgrimage
the three branches of services
Rejuvenation and Spiritual
including army, air force and
Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)
navy.
scheme which aims at renovating
the infrastructure of various All the OROP arrears will
pilgrimage sites over the country. be paid in four half yearly
instalments and all the widows
Atal Pension Yojana including war widows will be
Atal Pension Yojana was paid arrears in one instalment.
launched for all those who come The government has announced
from the unorganised sector to the revision of the pension after
make them self-dependent after every five years.
they have spent their lifetime
working for a non-pensionable Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
job. Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is
Under the scheme, a person launched with the purpose to
can receive a fixed amount of connect institutions of higher
pension starting from ` 1000 to education, including IITs, NITs
` 5000 per month depending on and Indian Institutes of Science
the contribution made by them. Education & Research (IISERs)
with the local communities
The minimum age of joining
to overcome development
the scheme is 18 years and the
 challenges and bring about rural of 50% from the account is
development. permitted at the age of 18 years
Each IITs and NITs will for higher education purpose.
choose 10 villages from their The account reaches the
neighbourhood and solve the maturation period when she
gravest issues of the region by attains the age of 21 years.
using technology.
Minority Ministry launches
The HRD ministry and the
educational institutes along OAMS for Nai Roshni
with other ministries like rural Union Minister for Minority
development and various NGOs Affairs, Dr. Najma Heptulla
working for the development of launched the Online Application
the villages are most likely to be Management System (OAMS)
included in the scheme. for Nai Roshni in order to
The high priority problems to be bring the scheme into public
looked after during the scheme domain which will facilitate
are: supply of potable water, transparency and quick delivery.
sanitation, energy consumption The procedures involved and
and construction of houses at a benefits of the system include:
low cost.
(a) Submission of online
Sukanya Samridhi Yojana application and generation
Sukanya Samridhi Yojna was of an application ID with
launched by Prime Minister date.
Narendra Modi on 22nd January (b) Online screening of
2015 as a girl child prosperity applications.
scheme to ensure the bright
(c) Online receipt of
future of the girl child in India.
documents.
The Sukanya Samriddhi account
can be opened anytime in (d) No loss of documents
between the birth of the girl due to postal or human
child and till the time she attains negligence.
the age of 10 years under her (e) Curtailment of procedural
name. delays.
Only one account is permissible (f) Minimized paper work.
for every girl child.
(g) Time saving.
Under the scheme, parents need
(h) The applicant can check the
to deposit
status of their applications
` 1,000 at the time of her birth and with their ID.
thereafter deposit multiples of `
(i) Online project approval,
100 with the maximum deposit
sanctions and release of
of ` 1,50,000.
funds.
The yojana permits the girl child
(j) Online monitoring of
to access her account after she is
projects.
10 years old and a withdrawal
 (k) Reports on trained women, Start up India, Stand up India
location of projects etc. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
available in public domain. announced the Start-Up India
The scheme was launched initiative while addressing
for Leadership Development the nation on the eve of 69th
of Minority Women in 2012- Independence Day.
13, to empower and instil The campaign aims to encourage
self-confidence in women by entrepreneurship among the
providing knowledge, tools and youth and create employment
techniques for interacting with opportunities in India. PM
Government systems, banks and urged 1.25 lakh bank branches
intermediaries at all levels. to provide finance to at least one
Nai Manzil scheme launched by Dalit or Adivasi and at least one
the Union Government woman entrepreneur.
Dr. Najma Heptulla, the Union The initiative would be
Minister for Minority Affairs beneficiary in giving a new
launched Nai Manzil scheme in dimension to entrepreneurship
Patna on 8th August, 2015 for and will help in setting up a
empowering minorities. network of start-ups in the
The scheme seeks to deal with country.
educational and livelihood The campaign aims to establish
needs of minority communities India as the number one start up
in general and Muslims in country. The Prime Minister has
particular as it lags behind other also promised to do away with
minority communities in terms the current practice of interview-
of educational attainments. based selections for low-skilled
The focus of the scheme is to government jobs.
provide educational intervention As part of the Skill India and
by offering bridge courses to the Digital India initiative, the
trainees, getting them certificates
PM announced that a package
for class XII and X through
of incentives will be given
distance educational system and
to manufacturing units for
facilitate them with trade basis
generating jobs.
skill training in 4 courses namely
Manufacturing, Engineering, Union Government launches
Services and Soft skills. School Nursery Yojana
The scheme will cover people in -The School Nursery Yojana
the age group of 17 to 35 years was launched by the Union
from all minority communities Government with the sole
as well as Madrasa students. purpose to bring school students
The scheme will also provide closer to nature by involving
avenues for continuing higher them in raising saplings in the
education and will also open up nurseries created inside their
employment opportunities in the school campuses.
organized sector.
 The scheme aims to cover ten M-Pesa, common service centres
thousand schools in the coming and gramin dak sewaks.
three years, which will receive There are currently over 23.3
a grant of Rs 25,000 in the first lakh beneficiaries getting pension
year and Rs 10,000 per year for under various social security
the subsequent two years. schemes entailing a monthly
The students will sow seeds and expenditure of Rs 270 crore.
nurture the saplings in the school The residents of other villages
nursery as a part of their extra- would, for the time being, get
curricular activities and practical their pension manually.
exercise for Biology classes. The beneficiaries are liable to
The school nurseries will have withdraw the amount as per their
minimum of 100 sq metres for requirement and also trace their
preparation of beds for raising account online to be acquainted
saplings and for nursery-related with the balance in his or her
activities. account.
The yojana will encourage Spices Board launches Subsidy
schools to practice composting, Scheme
rainwater harvesting and water
Spices Board of India launched
recycling to inspire best practices
various subsidies for farmers
in the young minds.
to sensitize them to enhance
The scheme seeks to the quality of spices and boost
inculcate best environmental production of spices in the
responsiveness practices in country.
young minds.
Under the new scheme, financial
Thari Pension, Thare Pass aid to be given to farmers for
Haryana Chief Minister irrigation, land development,
Manohar Lal Khattar launched mechanisation, replanting, soil
the Thari Pension Thare Pass in conservation, organic farming of
Chandigarh, seeking to directly various spices (especially small
transfer pension into the bank cardamom) and purchasing
accounts of beneficiaries. modern irrigation and farming
equipment and tools.
Over 10 lakh beneficiaries from
1,744 villages and 81 towns in the To increase production of spices,
state would get pensions through especially of small cardamom,
banks and post offices under the cultivators of small cardamom
first phase of the scheme. in Kerala and Tamil Nadu
will receive up to Rs 70,000
The beneficiaries would get their
for replanting, while farmers
pension through different modes,
in Karnataka will get up to Rs
including bank branches, post
50,000.
offices, business correspondent
agents (BCAs), additional BCAs, Also, there is provision of
primary agricultural cooperative financial assistance up to 25 per
society (PACS), Vodafone cent of actual cost for acquiring
 irrigation pump sets, sprinkler submitted within one year after
sets, equipment for gravity-fed the birth of the child.
irrigation system along with
financial aid of 50 per cent for
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
water storage structure. Yojana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The board has also announced
launched Pradhan Mantri
subsidy of Rs.1 lakh for
Kaushal Vikas Yojana, which
purchasing improved cardamom
curing devices and 50 per aims to offer 24 lakh Indian
cent subsidy for GAP (Good youth meaningful, industry
Agricultural Practices) kits and relevant, skill based training.
bee-keeping boxes. Under this scheme, the trainees
will be offered a financial reward
Aapki Beti Hamari Beti scheme
and a government certification
Haryana government launched on successful completion of
the Aapki Beti Hamari Beti
training and assessment, which
scheme aiming to combat the
will help them in securing a job
problem of declining child
for a better future.
sex ratio and promote girls
education. An allocation of Rs 150 crores
According to the scheme, has been done for training of
the first girl child born on or youth from the Northeast region.
after 22ndJanuary, 2015 in a Green Highways Policy 2015
scheduled caste or below poverty
Union Minister of Road
line family would be eligible to
Transport & Highways and
receive a onetime grant of Rs
Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari
21,000.
launched the Green Highways
The scheme is to be implemented (Plantation, Transplantation,
in both rural and urban areas of
Beautification and Maintenance)
the state covering first-born girl
Policy, 2015.
child of Scheduled Caste (SC)
and Below Poverty Line (BPL) The aim of the policy is to
families. promote greening of Highway
The grant will be invested with corridors with participation of
the Life Insurance Corporation the community, farmers, private
of India in the name of the girl sector, NGOs, and government
child, and the sum would be institutions.
given to the beneficiary when The target for the first year is
she turns 18. to plant trees along 6,000 km
The parents should be resident of highways, for which 12,000
of Haryana, to be eligible for the hectares of land allotted.
scheme. The Green Highway Policy will
If the applicant fails to submit help in making India pollution
the application form within free and lessen the number of
the stipulated time, it can be road accidents in the country.
 13
Swachh Himachal Padhai bhi, Industries department which
Safai bhi campaign will be based on self-certification
process.
Governor of Himachal Pradesh
Acharya Devvrat launched the Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh
Swachh Himachal Padhai bhi, had issued directives to simplify
Safai bhi campaign initiated the process of registration
by the HP Cricket Association and self-certification for
(HPCA). entrepreneurs so that they could
take its advantage.
The objective of the campaign is
to showcase Himachals beauty The CM has also urged the
and project it as Indias cleanest entrepreneurs planning to invest
and the greenest state. in the state to simplify the
investment and business process
This campaign will be conducted
so that PMs Make in India,
throughout the state, across 12
Digital India and Start up
districts both in urban and rural
India programmes yield good
areas led by youth hailing from
results.
school, colleges, universities,
educational institutes such as National Capital Goods Policy
ITIs, technical universities, 2016
Yuva Kendra, Mahila Mandal, Union Government unveiled the
etc. National Capital Goods Policy in
HPCA became the first cricket a seminar titled Capital Goods
association in the country to and Engineering: Realising
work towards Swacch Bharat the Make in India Vision, in
Abhiyan initiated by the Union Mumbai on 15th February.
Government. National Capital Goods
Udyam Aakansha scheme to Policy is a unique Government
promote SMEs led- industry driven manoeuvre
for scripting a new growth
Chhattisgarh government has
narrative in the history of
launched Udyam Aakansha
industrial development.
Scheme for promoting micro,
small and medium enterprises in Union Minister of Heavy
the state. Industry and Public Enterprises
Shri Anant Ganga Ram Geete
Subodh Singh, Secretary of the
highlighted the strategic
Commerce and Industries
importance of Capital Goods
department stated that the
and the important role played by
scheme would help free online
it in the overall manufacturing,
registration and self-certification
as the pillar of strength to the
to the investors interested in
vision of Make in India, the
investment on micro, small and
government has now come out
medium enterprises and service
with this policy.
businesses. The people planning
to invest can enroll themselves The policy seeks to increase
online through website of the exports from the current 27%
 14

to 40% of production while Distribution Company Limited .

increasing share of domestic After the signing of MoU,
production in Indias demand approximately 33 per cent of
from 60% to 80%. Bihars DISCOM debt which is
It also aims at improvement in around Rs.1.40 lakh crores will
technology depth across sub- be restructured.
sectors, amplify skill availability, Bihar became the second state
guarantee mandatory standards with a non-BJP government
and support growth and capacity after Uttar Pradesh to join the
building of MSMEs. scheme. Other states that have
Bihar becomes sixth state to join become a part of the scheme
UDAY Scheme are Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh,
Bihar became the sixth state to Jharkhand and Gujarat.
join the UDAY scheme which The scheme will help Bihar provide
is Centres power distribution power to around 1,152 villages
sector revival scheme that and 160.60 lakh households that
targets operational and financial are still without electricity.
turnaround of state discoms, Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
starting with restructuring of
their debt. Union Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley has proposed a new
The Government of India, the structure scheme, Rashtriya
State of Bihar and the DISCOMs Gram Swaraj Abhiyan to help
of Bihar (North Bihar Power Panchayat Raj Institutions
Distribution Company Limited, deliver Sustainable Development
and South Bihar Power Goals.
Distribution Company Limited)
signed a Memorandum of The scheme will help to develop
Understanding (MOU) under governance capabilities of
the Scheme UDAY Ujwal Panchayati Raj Institutions on
DISCOM Assurance Yojana the Sustainable Development
on 21st February for operational Goals, for which Rs. 655 crore
and financial turnaround of is being set apart. For rural
DISCOMs. development as a whole, Rs.
87,765 crore has been allocated.
The MoU was signed in the
presence of the Minister of Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana
State for Power (Independent Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana
Charge) Piyush Goyal. The or DAY is a scheme aiming at
MoU was signed on behalf upliftment of urban and rural
of Ministry of Power by Dr. poor through enhancement
A K Verma, Pratyaya Amrit , of livelihood opportunities
Bihars Secretary for Energy, through skill development and
R Lakshmanan , MD, North other means as per requisite
Bihar Power Distribution international standards.
Company Limited and Sandeep Union government has
Kumar MD ,South Bihar Power sanctioned Rs 500 crore (US$74
 15
million) for the scheme. It will National Dialysis Services
replace Aajevika. Programme
The scheme aims at training 0.5 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
million people in urban area has proposed to start a National
per annum from 2016 and in Dialysis Services Programme
rural area it is training 1 million under the New Health Protection
people by 2017. Scheme in the Budget 2016-17.
Rs 1,000 crore has been The required funds will be made
provisioned for urban poverty available through PPP Mode
alleviation under the scheme under the National Health
during 2014-15, out of which Rs Mission, to provide dialysis
500 crore will be spent on skill services in all district hospitals.
development of over 5,00,000 The Finance Minister proposed
urban poor. to exempt certain parts of
Union Finance Minister Arun dialysis equipment from basic
Jaitley in Budget 2016-17 said customs duty, excise/CVD and
that every block under drought SAD to reduce the cost involved
and rural distress will be taken in the dialysis sessions.
up as an intensive Block under
the Deen Dayal Antyodaya
Mission.