All Important Government Schemes 2024-25 (Part-6)

Ayushman Bharat

Announcement and Launch Dates:

• Announcement: February 2018
• Launch: September 28, 2018 (from Ranchi, Jharkhand)

Administering Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Aim:

1. Develop Strong Public Health Infrastructure: Strengthen health services in rural and urban areas.
2. Achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Ensure healthcare access for all citizens.

Beneficiaries:

• BPL families and laborers in the unorganized sector.

Health Insurance Coverage:

• Provides Rs. 5 lakh health insurance coverage to over 55 crore people from 12 crore families.

Two Main Components:

1. Health and Wellness Centres:
   1. Establishment of over 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres to provide primary healthcare services.
2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY):
   1. Insurance Coverage: Rs. 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
   1. Coverage Scope: More than 10 crore families registered.
   1. Includes expenses incurred for three days before admission and 15 days after discharge.

Implementing Agency:

• National Health Authority (NHA)

Recent Initiatives:

• Ayushman Bhava Abhiyan (September 2023): Focuses on providing healthcare facilities in rural areas and promoting Ayushman Bharat schemes.

Changes from September 2024:

• Enhanced Insurance Coverage:
  • Rs. 5 lakh insurance plus an additional top-up insurance of Rs. 5 lakh for individuals above 70 years of age in families from all sections of society.

Ayushman Bharat aims to provide universal health coverage and strengthen healthcare infrastructure through its two components: Health and Wellness Centres and PM-JAY. The scheme has significantly improved access to healthcare for economically vulnerable groups, and its expanded insurance coverage will further ensure health security for elderly citizens.

National Health Mission (NHM)

Launch Year: 2013

Objectives:

1. Strengthen Health Systems: Improve the healthcare system in both rural and urban areas.
2. Reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): Target MMR of 1 per 1,000 live births.
3. Reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Aim to bring IMR down to 25 per 1,000 live births.
4. Control Fertility Rate: Bring the total fertility rate to 2.1.
5. Prevent and Control Diseases: Focus on preventing and controlling both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

The National Health Mission aims to create a robust healthcare infrastructure across rural and urban areas and achieve significant improvements in key health indicators, including maternal and child health, fertility, and disease control.

Mission Shakti

Duration: 2021-22 to 2025-26

Objective:

• To monitor the effective implementation of schemes related to women’s empowerment and welfare.

Sub-Schemes:

1. Samarthya:
   1. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: Support for pregnant women.
   1. Ujjwala: LPG subsidy to reduce conventional cooking methods.
   1. Swadhar Griha (Shakti Sadan): Shelter for women in distress.
   1. Working Women Hostel (Sakhi Niwas): Safe accommodation for working women.
   1. Creche Scheme: Childcare facility support.
2. Sambal:
   1. One Stop Center: Support for women affected by violence.
   1. 181 Women Helpline: Help and information to women in need.
   1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Improving the status of girls.
   1. Nari Adalat: Local dispute resolution for women’s issues.

Challenges:

• Inter-Departmental Coordination: Difficulty in coordination between different departments and ministries for seamless execution.
• Awareness: Awareness about women’s welfare schemes remains low in rural areas.

Conclusion:

Mission Shakti is a comprehensive approach to empowering women through multiple interventions. Addressing inter-departmental coordination and raising awareness can ensure more effective and widespread implementation.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)

Announcement: February 2024

Duration: 2023-24 to 2026-27 (4 years)

Budget: Rs. 6000 crores

Funding: 50:50 (Centre: World Bank)

Objective:

• Establish a digital platform and formal registration for the fisheries sector.

Beneficiaries:

• Fishermen, fish workers, fish vendors, fisheries firms, companies, SHGs, FPOs, etc.

Components:

1. Formalization and Insurance: Registration, aquaculture insurance.
2. Value Chain Enhancement: Grants for value addition (25%-35% of total investment).
3. Fish Product Quality Improvement.
4. Project Management.

Challenges:

• Digital Literacy: Digital adoption among fishermen is challenging, especially in rural coastal areas.
• Funding and Insurance Awareness: Limited awareness of financial grants and insurance schemes hampers adoption.

Conclusion:

PM-MKSSY aims to modernize and formalize the fisheries sector, providing critical funding and enhancing the value chain. Overcoming the digital literacy gap and enhancing outreach efforts will boost its success.

NPS Vatsalya Scheme

Announcement: Budget 2024-25

Regulating Agency:

• PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority)

Objective:

• To create a better economic future for minors through early savings.

Provisions:

• Investment of Rs. 1000 per Month: Parents can invest monthly.
• Account Eligibility: Can be opened from birth to 18 years of age.

Challenges:

• Outreach: Educating parents on the benefits of the scheme remains challenging.
• Affordability: For economically weaker sections, contributing Rs. 1000 per month can be challenging.

Conclusion:

NPS Vatsalya offers a promising way to secure minors’ futures, but enhancing awareness among all sections of society will be key to its broader adoption.

Cooperative Grain Storage Plan

Launch Date: 24 February 2019

Objective:

• To enhance food storage infrastructure across India.

Provisions:

1. Targeting 700 lakh tons of grain storage over five years.
2. Operational in 11 PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) across 11 states.

Budget:

• Rs. 2500 crores

Challenges:

• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Ensuring effective storage infrastructure remains a challenge, especially in rural areas.
• Maintenance Issues: Maintenance of storage facilities is crucial to prevent wastage.

Conclusion:

The Cooperative Grain Storage Plan aims to improve storage and prevent post-harvest losses. Addressing infrastructure gaps and improving maintenance practices are necessary to maximize the impact.

Namo Drone Didi Scheme

Announcement: 2023

Objective: Training and empowering women through drone technology.

Target:

• Training 1 lakh women in five years.
• Providing drones to 15,000 SHGs (Self-Help Groups).

Challenges:

• Skill Development: Training women in advanced drone technology can be challenging, especially in rural areas.
• Access to Technology: Ensuring access to advanced technology is crucial.

Conclusion:

The Namo Drone Didi Scheme aims to empower women economically and technologically. Efforts to improve access to technology and skills training are key for this scheme’s success.

Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana

Launch Date: 8 July 2023 (Nadiad, Kheda District of Gujarat)

Objective:

• To provide insurance coverage to workers in the unorganized sector.

Provisions:

• Insurance of Rs. 5 lakhs or Rs. 10 lakhs through 60,000 post offices.
• Premiums: Rs. 289 for 5 lakhs and Rs. 499 for 10 lakhs insurance.

Challenges:

• Affordability: Workers with low incomes may find the premium challenging to afford.
• Coverage Awareness: Ensuring that workers are aware of this scheme and its benefits remains an issue.

Conclusion:

Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana addresses the need for financial security among workers in the unorganized sector. Increasing awareness and affordability will make it more effective.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)

Launch Date: April 12, 2005

Scheme Type: 100% Central Sector Scheme

Aim:

• Reduce Maternal and Infant Mortality Rate by encouraging institutional delivery for pregnant women.

Cash Assistance:

• Rural Women: Rs. 1,400.
• Urban Women: Rs. 1,000.
• ASHA Workers:
  • Rural Areas: Rs. 600.
  • Urban Areas: Rs. 400.

Beneficiaries:

• High-Performing States:
  • Only women from BPL households, who are not below 19 years of age.
• Low-Performing States (LPS):
  • All women are eligible.
  • Focus on states with low institutional delivery rates:
    • Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir.

Janani Suraksha Yojana aims to promote institutional deliveries to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, especially in low-performing states, by providing financial assistance and support to pregnant women and ASHA workers.

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)

Launch Date: May 9, 2015

Scheme Type:

• Personal Accident Insurance Plan for a period of one year.

Administering Ministry:

• Ministry of Finance

Beneficiaries:

• Individuals aged 18 to 70 years.

Coverage Amount:

• Accidental Death and Full Disability: Rs. 2 lakh.
• Partial Disability: Rs. 1 lakh.

Premium:

• Rs. 20 per annum.

Insurance Period:

• One-year coverage from June 1 to May 31, renewable annually.

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana offers affordable accident insurance to individuals, providing financial support in case of accidental death or disability, with an annual premium of just Rs. 20.