Announcement of schemes on 77th Independence Day
Recently several schemes have been announced by the Prime Minister for skilled workers, women self-help groups and urban poor among others.
He announced the plans from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 77th Independence Day.
The Prime Minister began his speech on the occasion of 77th Independence Day by stating India’s position as the largest democracy globally.
Important Schemes:
PM Vishwakarma Scheme
- It will be launched on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti. The objective of the scheme is to benefit persons skilled in traditional craftsmanship, especially from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community.
- Weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, washermen, barbers and such families will be empowered with the ‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ starting with an allocation of around Rs 13-15 thousand crores.
- The scheme will include various elements such as financial assistance, modern and green technology training, brand promotion, market connectivity, digital payments and social security.
- The initiative is in line with other successful government schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, PM SVANidhi and Ujjwala.
- In this, it wants to provide 15,000 drones and necessary training to artisans and strengthen the agri-tech sector including women self-help groups.
Lakhpati Didi:
- The government is planning skill development training for 2 crore women under the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, with an aim to encourage them to start micro-enterprises.
- Under this, skill training will be provided to women so that they can earn at least Rs 1 lakh annually.
- 15,000 women self-help groups will be given loans and training to operate and repair drones.
- Drone services will be available for agricultural work. This is likely to accelerate the adoption of drone technology in agriculture, and lead to substantial job creation and agribusiness opportunities in rural areas.
Housing Scheme:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new scheme to help the urban poor build houses in cities.
- Under this program, they will get relief in loans and interest rates taken from banks to build their houses.
- This will benefit those families who live in cities but are living in rented houses, slums, chawls and unauthorized colonies.
- If this class wants to build their own house, the government will help them with interest rate relief and loans from banks, which will help them save lakhs of rupees.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U)
- To address the housing shortage for the urban poor, the government already has a scheme called the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U).
- It is a flagship mission of the government, implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
- It was launched in June 2015 to provide suitable all-weather housing units to eligible beneficiaries in all urban areas.
- All houses constructed or acquired or purchased under the mission have basic amenities like kitchen, water supply, electricity and toilets. The mission has been extended till 31 December 2024.
Source – Indian Express
