Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi marks 10 years of Jan Dhan Yojana

Key Highlights of PMJDY

• Total Accounts Opened: 13 crore (as of 14th August 2024).
• Women Account Holders: 55.6% (29.56 crore).
• Accounts in Rural/Semi-Urban Areas: 66.6% (35.37 crore).
• Total Deposits: Rs. 2.31 lakh crore.
• Average Deposit per Account: Rs. 4,352.
• RuPay Cards Issued: 36.14 crore.

Digital Transactions:

• Total Transactions: Increased from 2,338 crore in FY 2018-19 to 16,443 crore in FY 2023-24.
• UPI Transactions: Increased from 535 crore in FY 2018-19 to 13,113 crore in FY 2023-24.
• RuPay Card Transactions: Increased from 67 crore in FY 2017-18 to 96.78 crore in FY 2023-24.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

• PMJDY creates a platform for universal access to banking facilitieswith at least one basic banking account for every household, financial literacy, and access to credit, insurance, and pension facilities.

Eligibility:

• The applicant should be an Indian National.
• The applicant should be aged between 18 and 59 years.
• If minors above ten years apply, they will require support from their legal guardians to administer their PMJDY account.

Basic tenets of the scheme

• Banking the unbanked - Opening of basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) account with minimal paperwork, relaxed KYC, e-KYC, account opening in camp mode, zero balance & zero charges
• Securing the unsecured - Issuance of Indigenous Debit cards for cash withdrawals & payments at merchant locations, with free accident insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakhs
• Funding the unfunded - Other financial products like micro-insurance, overdraft for consumption, micro-pension & micro-credit

Key features of PMJDY

• BSBD account can be opened in any bank branch or Business Correspondent (Bank Mitra) outlet, by persons not having any other account. 
• Focus on every unbanked adult.
• Free accidental insurance cover on RuPay cards increasedfrom Rs. 1 lakh to  2 lakhs for PMJDY accounts after 28.8.2018.
• Rs 10,000 Overdraft (OD) facilities and upper age limit for ODis 65 years.
• PMJDY accounts are eligible for Direct Benefit Transfer, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Bank scheme.

Significance:

• Promoting Equitable Growth: PMJDY fosters Financial Inclusion (FI), leading to inclusive growth through the provision of affordable financial services to low-income and disadvantaged segments of the population.
• The Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile (JAM) architecture has enabled seamless transfer of government benefits to common citizens'' accounts.
• Bringing Savings to Formal Systems: PMJDY has brought the savings of the poor into the formal financial system, freeing them from usurious money lenders.
• Empowering Women: Approximately 6% of Jan Dhan accounts belong to women, promoting financial empowerment.
• Overdraftis available in only one account per household, preferably lady of the household.

Union Minister to inaugurate the 18th Divya Kala Mela - an embodiment of the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement - in Ranchi

Divya Kala Mela

Historical Context and Evolution:

• Inception and Evolution: Launched in 2022, the Divya Kala Mela is a recurring event with the 18th edition marking its continuation. The event has been held in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, and Guwahati, each contributing to its growth and reach.
• Growth Trajectory: Over the years, the Mela has expanded in scope and scale, drawing more participants and a larger audience, reflecting its increasing significance.

Objectives and Purpose:

• Empowerment of PwDs: The primary objective is to empower Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) by providing them a platform to display and sell their products, thus promoting their economic independence.
• Cultural Promotion: The event serves to highlight and celebrate India''s diverse cultural heritage through the craftsmanship of Divyang artisans.
• Social Inclusion: Aims to promote social inclusion by showcasing the talents and skills of PwDs, challenging stereotypes and encouraging greater societal acceptance.

Alignment with Government Initiatives:

• Vocal for Local Movement: The event supports the ''Vocal for Local'' initiative, which encourages the promotion of locally made products and supports the growth of local economies.
• Supportive Policies: Reflects various government policies aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of PwDs, including the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and other initiatives aimed at inclusion and empowerment.

Vocal for Local

• It is an initiative of NITI Aayog under its Aspirational Blocks Programme to encourage a spirit of self-reliance among the people and propel them towards sustainable growth and prosperity.
• As a part of this initiative, local products from 500 aspirational blocks have been mapped and consolidated under the Aakanksha brand.
• Aakanksha is an umbrella brand, which could be supplemented into multiple sub-brands that have the potential to create an international market.
• In order to encourage these products, a dedicated window for the Aspirational Blocks Programme under the brand name Aakanksha has been established on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
• The partners will also provide technical and operational support for the facilitation of e-commerce onboarding, establishing linkages, financial/digital literacy, documentation/certification, and skill enhancement, among others.

Benefits of Vocal for Local Initiative

• Encouraging the purchase of locally made products stimulates monetary increase with the aid of helping nearby corporations, artisans, and producers. 
• Small and medium-sized firms are the spine of India and the Vocal for Local helps in strengthening these businesses by providing them with improved visibility and market accessibility.
• Local production usually implies less transportation and carbon footprint, contributing to environmental sustainability. 
• Many domestically made products in India are deeply rooted in the country ’s rich cultural history and traditions. The initiative helps maintain indigenous crafts and traditions, safeguarding cultural range.
• Vocal for Local fosters an experience of community empowerment by encouraging people to take part in their local products and organizations. 

Challenges and Opportunities for ‘Vocal for Local’

• One of the primary challenges is ensuring that locally produced goods meet the quality standards and can compete with imported products. Local businesses may need to invest in research and development, upgrade their production processes, and adopt best practices to enhance the quality and competitiveness of their offerings.
• The second major challenge will be to match the market competitive pricings, if the products have to survive. By showcasing the unique craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and eco-friendly practices associated with local products, businesses can tap into the growing demand for authentic and sustainable goods.

Special Skill Development Project Empowering Adolescent Girls and Women for High-Demand, Non-Traditional Careers

Highlights:

Pilot Project Initiation:

• A collaborative initiative by MSDE and MWCD to empower adolescent girls and women in 27 aspirational districts across nine states.
• This pilot is the first phase of a strategic partnership aiming for a nationwide program.

Training Focus:

• Conducted under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0.
• Targets around 4000 beneficiaries with training in non-traditional and high-demand job roles.
• Emphasis on digital and soft skills development.

Support Services:

• Comprehensive support including counselling, career guidance, financial and digital literacy, and job placement assistance.
• Connections to e-commerce platforms and sensitization on POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment).
• ₹1,000 per month for transport conveyance to female trainees via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Goals and Vision:

• Increase women’s participation in the formal economy from 37% to 60%,aligning with developed nations.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0.

• Launched: PMKVY was initially launched in 2015. PMKVY 4.0 is the latest iteration of this flagship scheme.
• Objective: To provide skill development training to the youth, making them more employable and equipped for the job market.
• Target Group: Primarily aimed at youth between the ages of 15 and 45.

Key Features of PMKVY 4.0

• Focus on Industry Needs: PMKVY 4.0 emphasizes aligning training programs with industry needs, ensuring that the skills imparted are in demand.
• Enhanced Training Models: Includes both short-term training and recognition of prior learning (RPL) to cater to various needs and backgrounds.
• Integration with Digital Platforms: Increased use of digital tools and platforms for training and assessment to improve accessibility and efficiency.
• Industry Partnerships: Strengthened collaborations with industry partners for better alignment with market demands and job placement.

Challenges

• Quality of Training: Ensuring the consistency and quality of training across different centers.
• Industry Integration: Maintaining strong industry linkages to ensure that training remains relevant to market needs.
• Scalability: Effectively scaling the program to cover diverse geographic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment Act (POSH Act) 

The POSH Act is a legislation enacted by the Government of India in 2013 to address the issue of sexual harassment faced by women in the workplace. The Act aims to create a safe and conducive work environment for women and provide protection against sexual harassment.

Key Provisions of the PoSH Act:

• Defines sexual harassment: To include unwelcome acts such as physical, verbal/non-verbal conduct - a demand or request for sexual favours, making sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography, etc.

Lists down five circumstances that would constitute sexual harassment:

1. Implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in employment
2. Implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in employment
3. Implied or explicit threat about present or future employment status
4. Interference with work or creating an intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment and
5. Humiliating treatment is likely to affect health or safety.

• Defines an employee (not just in accordance with the company law): All women employees, whether employed regularly, temporarily, contractually, on an ad hoc or daily wage basis, as apprentices or interns, can seek redressal to sexual harassment in the workplace.
• Expands the definition of ‘workplace’: Beyond traditional offices to include all kinds of organisations across sectors, even non-traditional workplaces (for example, telecommuting) and places visited by employees for work.

Single-strain Oral Cholera vaccine launched in Hyderabad

A novel single-strain Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV), vaccine named, HILLCHOL®, has been launched by the Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) in Hyderabad.

Objective: Enhance production and supply capabilities to combat cholera globally.

Global Cholera Statistics:

• Deficit of OCV: About 40 million doses worldwide.
• Recent Cases: Over 800,000 cases in the past year.
• Deaths Reported: 5,900 deaths in 31 countries.

Cholera:

• It is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
• Left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours,even in previously healthy people.
• The disease is most common inplaces with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Cholera outbreaks are more common in warm climates.
• Cholera is often predictable and preventable.It can ultimately be eliminated where access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as good hygiene practices, are ensured and sustained for the whole population.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection.
• Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious.
• About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrheaaccompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. This can lead to death if left untreated.

Transmission:

• A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating foodcontaminated with the cholera bacterium.
• The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.

Prevention and Control:

Surveillance

• Cholera surveillance should be part of an integrated disease surveillance system that includes feedback at the local level and information-sharing at the global level.
• Countries affected by cholera are encouraged to strengthen disease surveillance and national preparedness to rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks.

Water and sanitation interventions

• The long-term solution for cholera control lies in economic development and universal access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
• Actions targeting environmental conditions include the implementation of adapted long-term sustainable WASH solutionsto ensure the use of safe water, basic sanitation and good hygiene practices in cholera hotspots. 
• The WASH solutions for cholera are aligned with those of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6).

Community Engagement

• Local cultural practices and beliefsare central to promoting actions such as the adoption of protective hygiene measures such as handwashing with soap, safe preparation and storage of food and safe disposal of the faeces of children.
• Community engagement should be done throughout the outbreak response with increased communication regarding potential risks, symptoms of cholera, and precautions to take to avoid cholera.

Cabinet accords approval for progressive expansion of Central Sector Scheme of ''Agriculture Infrastructure Fund''

Key highlights of the expanded Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme:

• Expansion of Scope: The AIF scheme has been broadened to include new types of projects and beneficiaries to enhance agricultural infrastructure.
• Viable Farming Assets: The scheme now covers ''viable projects for building community farming assets,'' aimed at boosting community farming capabilities and sustainability.
• Integrated Processing Projects: Includes integrated primary and secondary processing projects. Standalone secondary projects will be covered under MoFPI schemes.
• Convergence with PM-KUSUM: Component-A of the PM-KUSUM scheme can now be combined with AIF for farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and panchayats to promote clean energy solutions in agriculture.
• Credit Guarantee Expansion: Credit guarantee coverage for FPOs will be extended through NABSanrakshan Trustee Company Pvt. Ltd., in addition to CGTMSE, to enhance financial security.
• Achievements and Impact: Since its launch in 2020, AIF has sanctioned Rs. 47,575 Crore for 74,508 projects, creating infrastructure like warehouses, cold stores, and silos. This has increased storage capacity by 500 LMT and created over 8.19 lakh rural jobs.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

• AIF is a financing facility launched inJuly 2020.
• It aims to provide all-around financial support to the farmers,agri-entrepreneurs, farmer groups like Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) etc. and many others to create post-harvest management infrastructure and build community farming assets throughout the country.

Features:

• AIF provides support of 3% interest subvention, credit guarantee support through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loan of up to Rs. 2 crore and facility of convergence with other Central and State Government schemes.
• AIF is helping inreducing post-harvest losses by creating and modernising agriculture infrastructure, which includes primary processing centres for vegetables, hi-tech hubs for rental of agricultural machinery.

Benefits of AIF Scheme

• Income Boost for Farmers- Financial support and investment in agriculture through AIF will lead to increased productivity of farms and boost the income for farmers.
• Reduction in Post-Harvest Losses-  AIFs if utilized appropriately can improve infrastructure, logistics, and storage, reducing post-harvest losses and it will ensure better returns for farmers.
• Improve the market infrastructure- Improved marketing infrastructure enables farmers to sell directly to a larger consumer base, reducing dependency on intermediaries and enhancing market access.
• Encourage Community Farming- AIFs supporting community farming assets lead to optimized input utilization and substantial savings for farmers, enhancing overall productivity.

Limitations of AIF Scheme

• Viability Concerns for FPOs-  Exploring the potential benefits of the scheme for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and questioning their viability.
• Data Transparency on Institutional Funding-  Highlighting the absence of reliable data on fund flow from institutions like NABARD, SFAC, and State agencies to FPOs, raising transparency concerns.
• Lack of Convergence with Existing Schemes- Examining the absence of a mechanism for convergence with existing schemes, such as the PEG scheme, which has attracted private and corporate capital into agribusiness.
• eNAM Integration Challenges for APMCs-  Discussing the potential limitations of expanding the scope of Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) by integrating them into the electronic National Agricultural Market (eNAM) structure without a monitoring and evaluation cell in place.

Suggestive Measures for AIF Scheme

• Enhancing Awareness and Information Dissemination- The government should intensify efforts to raise awareness about the AIF scheme among its intended beneficiaries. 
• Utilizing print and electronic media, social platforms, webinars, workshops, and roadshows can effectively communicate information.
• Leveraging existing networks like Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Common Service Centres, and Agricultural Technology Management Agencies can facilitate grassroots outreach.
• Improving Coordination and Convergence- The government should ensure better coordination and convergence among various stakeholders implementing the AIF scheme. 
• Regular meetings, consultations, reviews, and feedback mechanisms are essential.
• Establishing a single-window system for project clearances and approvals, along with harmonizing norms and standards for post-harvest infrastructure across states and sectors, is crucial.