POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES

POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES

Social Security Scheme

• A Social Security Fund (SSF) was set up in 1988-89 for providing social security through group insurance schemes to the weaker sections of society
• The SSF is administered by the LIC
• The SSF provides up to Rs 5000 on death from natural causes and Rs 25,000 upon death/disability due to accident
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Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY)

• The Janashree Bima Yojana was launched in 2000
• The JBY is a group insurance scheme. The minimum membership of the group should be 25 persons
• The JBY is administered by the LIC
• The JBY provides for insurance protection to rural and urban poor. The scheme covers BPL people and above poverty line people who belong to certain identified occupational groups
• The scheme provides for cover of Rs 20,000 on natural death. The scheme also provides pension of Rs 200
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Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY)

• Launched in 2007
• Provides insurance to the head of the family of rural landless households
• Covers natural death and accidental death/disability
• The scheme also provides additional benefit of scholarships for max two children between 9^th and 12^th standards
• Administered by the LIC
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Universal Health Insurance Scheme (UHIS)

• The UHIS is meant to improve access of health care to poor families
• Scheme provides for reimbursement of medical expenses, death and compensation due to loss of earning capacity
• The UHIS targets only BPL families
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National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS)

• Launched in 1999
• Protects farmers against losses due to natural calamities such as flood, drought, pestilence etc
• Scheme is implemented by the Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC)
• The Scheme is available to all farmers irrespective of the size of their land holdings
• The Scheme covers all food crops and oil seeds. It also covers some commercial and horticultural crops
• The scheme has until now covered more than 1.3 million farmers and 211 million hectares of land

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Pilot Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)

• Launched in 2007, on a pilot basis
• The WBCIS aims to cover farmers against anticipated crop failure due to adverse weather conditions
• The scheme is based on the fact that weather parameters can affect crop yield even when the farmer has taken all care to ensure a good harvest
  
• The payouts are based on historical data that determine weather thresholds/triggers beyond which crop losses are expected 
  
• The WBCIS is implemented by the AIC
• The scheme is currently being implemented on 30 major crops including horticultural crops
  
• Currently the scheme covers more than 110,000 farmers and 1.4 million hectares of land

National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy 2007

• The main aim of the policy is Affordable Housing for All
• Objectives of the Policy include
  • Urban planning including urban local bodies, rural-urban balance and Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS)
  • Affordable housing including development of housing infrastructure, technological modernization and subsidies for economically weaker sections
  • Increased flow of funds from government and private financial sources
  • Spatial incentives including relaxation of Floor Area Ratio and more efficient use of space by construction of high-rise buildings
  • Special provisions for minorities and women

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Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM)

• Launched in 2005
• It is a massive city modernization programme
• Applies to 63 cities in India
• Provides City Development Plans (CDP) for addressing infrastructure gaps relating to water, sanitation, housing and roads
• Includes the following sub-missions
  • Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP): provides seven services to low income settlements i.e. security of tenure, affordable housing, water, sanitation, health, education, social security
  • Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP): provides the seven services to cities other Mission cities

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Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (ISSHUP)

• Launched in 2009
• Applies to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG)
• The scheme aims to encourage the poor to avail loan facilities through commercial banks/HUDCO for construction of housing
• Provides a 5% subsidy in interest payment
• Envisages construction of 310,000 dwelling units in the country

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Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)

• Launched in 1991
• Aims to provide gainful employment to urban unemployed
• Promotes setting up self-employment ventures and wage employment prospects
• Sponsored jointly by Central and state governments (75:25 ratio)

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Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Scheme (ILCS)

• Launched in 1980, revised in 2003
• ILCS scheme launched to eliminate dry latrines in India, which involve carrying of sewage on the heads of scavengers
• The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993 seeks to remove this unsanitary and restore human dignity of scavengers
• Aims include
  • Construct/convert low-cost sanitation units through sanitary two-pit pour flush latrines
  • Construct news latrines for EWS households having no latrines
• The scheme covers all towns, but only EWS households
• Funded by the Centre (75%), state (15%) and beneficiary (10%)
• The main target of the scheme is to convert 600,000 dry latrines by March 2010

POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN INDIA

Overview

• Poverty is widespread in India. 

• India has about 33% of the world’s poor

• 42% of India’s population falls below the poverty line (BPL) of $1.25 per day, having reduced from 60% in 1980

Over the past decades the Government has initiated multiple poverty alleviation programmes that have helped substantially reduce poverty, prevent famines and increase literacy in the country National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)

• Launched 2006

• The NREGA aims at two objectives: employment and rural development

• Provides a legal guarantee for employment of 100 days every year to adult members of rural households, who are willing to do unskilled manual labour for public works

• Provides statutory minimum wage of Rs 60 per day

• Applies to all rural households, whether or not they are BPL

• The NREGA stipulates that works must be targeted towards a specific set of rural development activates like water conservation, afforestation, flood control, etc

Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)

• Launched in 1978

• Aims to provide self employment in various activities in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy. Supported activities include sericulture, animal husbandry, weaving, handicrafts, services, businesses etc

• Merged with the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana in 1999

Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana

• Introduced 1993

• Aims to provide self employment for educated unemployed youth by setting up microenterprises

• Under the scheme, every selected educated unemployed youth 18-35 years old and having family income below Rs 24,000 is given loan up to Rs 1 lakh for opening his own enterprises

 Swarnajayanti Gram Swarjgar Yojana (SGSY)

• Launched 1991

• The SGSY is a self employment programme that focuses on poverty alleviation

• Promotes self help groups, development of micro enterprises by providing bank credit and government subsidy

• Includes 50% benefit to SC/ST, 40% for women and 3% for disabled

Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)

• Launched 2001

• Provides wage employment in rural areas, thereby ensuring food security, creation of durable community, social and economic infrastructure

• Implementation through Panchayati Raj system

Swarna Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)

• Launched 1997

• Aims to provide gainful employment to the urban unemployed poor through encouraging the setting up self employment ventures or provision of wage employment

Contains two special schemes

• The Urban Self Employment Programme

• Urban Wage Employment Programme

• SJSRY is a merged programme consisting of erstwhile schemes like Urban Basic Services, Nehru Rozgar Yojana, and PM’s Integrated Urban Poverty Eradication Programme

• Provides reservations for women (30%), disabled (3%) and SC/ST on the strength of local population

Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)

• Launched 1996

• The IAY is a scheme that provides for construction of houses and money to be given to poor

PROGRAMMES FOR THE MSME SECTOR

Some of the important programmes are highlighted in this section. For a complete list of schemes and programmes see here and here

1. Cluster Development Initiative (CDI)
   1. Clusters are defined as sectoral and geographical concentrations of enterprises that share common opportunities and threats
   2. Clusters facilitate the development of inter-firm cooperation to promote local production and collective learning
   3. Clusters account for over 60% of manufactured exports from India
   4. India has over 400 clusters of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and 2000 artisan clusters
   5. The CDI in India is supported by the Cluster Development Programmer of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
   6. The CDI is a programme implemented by the Ministry of MSME
2. National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP)
   1. Launched in 2005
   2. Aims to increase competitiveness in the face of liberalization and moderation of tariff rates
   3. Implemented by the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council functioning under the Ministry of MSME
3. Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)
   1. Launched in 2005
   2. Aims to achieve comprehensive development of clusters of khadi, village and coir industries
   3. Implemented by the KVIC and the Coir Board
4. Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana (RGUMY)
1. Launched in 2008
2. Aims to provide support and assistance to first-time entrepreneurs
3. Helps in dealing with various procedural and legal formalities required for the establishment of the enterprise
4. Implemented by the Ministry of MSME

AGRICULTURAL CREDIT AND INSURANCE

Kisan Credit Card

• Launched in 1998 to provide short-term credit
• Simple, flexible procedures
• Helps buy seeds and fertilizers at farmer’s convenience
• Operated by major nationalized banks
• Includes personal accident insurance coverage

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National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) / Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana (RKBY)

• Launched in 2008
• Provides insurance coverage in the event of failure of crop due to natural causes, pests and diseases
• Covers food crops, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton and potato
• Joint programme of Central and State governments
• 50% subsidy for small and medium farmers
• Implemented by Agriculture Insurance Company of India (combination of NABARD and other nationalized insurance companies)

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Livestock Insurance Scheme

• Launched in 2005
  
• Provides protection to farmers and cattle rearers against loss due to animal death
  
• Covers crossbred and high yielding cattle and buffaloes
  
• Fully funded by the Central government
  
• 50% subsidy
  
• Implemented by livestock development boards of each state
  

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Rainfall Insurance / Varsha Bima

• Launched in 2004
• Provides protection against anticipated shortfall in crop yield due to deficit rainfall
• Implemented by Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AIC)

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Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)

• Launched in 2003
• Provides protection against loss due to adverse weather conditions including rainfall, frost, temperature etc
• Jointly funded by Central and State governments
• Up to 50% subsidy

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Rainfall Insurance Scheme for Coffee Growers (RISC)

• Launched in 2009
• Protects against loss due to deficit rainfall during blossom and backing periods and excess rains during monsoon period
• Covers Robusta/Arabica variety of coffee in Karnataka, Kerala, TN
• Funded by the Coffee Board (Central government)
• 50% subsidy
• Implemented by AIC
  

AGRICULTURAL SCHEMES AND PROGRAMMES

All programmes fall under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture unless otherwise noted.

National Food Security Mission

• Launched in Aug 2007
• Objectives:
  • To increase production of wheat, rice and pulses on a sustainable basis to ensure food security of the country
  • Restore soil fertility
  • Employment generation
  • Enhance farm-level economy
• Seeks to disseminate improved technologies and farm practices
• Central Govt. provides 50% subsidy
• Three components: NFSM Rice, NFSM Wheat, NFSM Pulses
• Targeted increase in production: Rice 10 million tonnes, Wheat 8 m t, Pulses 2 m t
• Structure:
  • Chairman: Minister of Agriculture
  • Members: Secretaries of Dept of Agriculture and Cooperation, Finance, Adviser Planning Commission, Agriculture Commissioner

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National Horticulture Mission

• Launched in 2005
• Objective: provide growth of horticulture and enhance horticulture production
• Promotes use of technology to farmers for high-tech horticulture cultivation
• Promotes diversification from traditional crops to plantations, orchards, vineyards etc
• Funded by Central (85%) and State (15%) governments
• Structure
  • Chairman: Minister of Agriculture
  • Members: Ministers of Commerce, Health, Finance, Food Processing, Industries, Panchayati Raj, Science & Technology, Rural Development

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National Agriculture Development Program (NADP) / Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

• Launched in 2007
• Objectives:
  • To incentivise states to increase their investment in agriculture
  • To provide flexibility and autonomy to states in agricultural planning
  • To maximise returns for farmers
  • To reduce yield gaps in important crops
• Fully funded by the Central government, executed by the State governments
• Areas of focus
  • Integrated development of food crops
  • Agriculture mechanization
  • Soil health and productivity
  • Horticulture
  • Animal husbandry
  • Use of technology

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Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme 2008

• Launched in 2008
• Covers direct loans by certain commercial banks, rural banks and cooperatives
• For small and marginal farmers the entire eligible amount shall be waived
• For other farmers there will be a one time settlement under which the farmer will be relieved of 25% of the loan amount
• Implemented by NABARD and RBI

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Agri Clinics and Agri Business Centres Scheme

• Launched in 2002
• Agriclinics provide expert services and advice to farmers on cropping practices, technology dissemination, crop protection, market trends, clinical services for animal health etc.
• Agribusiness
  Centres provide input supply, farm equipment on hire etc
• Objectives
  • To make available supplementary sources of input and services to farmers
  • To provide gainful employment to agriculture graduates
  • To create agriculture entrepreneurs
• Example projects:
  • Soil and water testing
  • Pest control services
  • Micro irrigation systems
  • Seed processing units
  • Hatcheries, apiaries
  • Setting up of IT kiosks in rural areas
• Financial support from NABARD

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National Commission on Farmers

• Constituted in 2004
  
• Chairman Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (instrumental in Green Revolution in India)
  
• Submitted final report in 2006
  
• Suggests measure to enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability of farming in different regions of the country
  
• Suggests measures to attract and retain youth in the agriculture sector
  
• Suggests medium term strategy for food and nutrition security
  
• Resulted in the National Policy for Farmers – 2007
  

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National Policy for Farmers – 2007

• Focus on economic well being of farmers rather than just production
• Efficiency of water use and maximizing yield per unit of water
• Drought code, flood code and good weather code
• Use of technology to increase productivity
• Agricultural credit and insurance
• Support services for women
• Setting up of farm schools
• Gyan Chaupals to harness the help of IT
• Community foodgrain banks
• National social security system for farmers
• Cabinet Committee on Food Security to be constituted

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Note: All programmes implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture unless otherwise states