In Independence Day speech, PM announces Vishwakarma Yojana, Lakhpati Didi and A Scheme To Help The Urban Poor Build Houses In Cities

Relevance: GS 2 - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS 3 - Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

(Source: The Hindu, Hindustan Times 08/16/23)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 announced two new initiatives — Vishwakarma Yojana, a new scheme with an outlay of Rs 13,000 crore to Rs 15000 crore, and Lakhpati Didi, under which skill training will be provided to two crore women so that they can earn at least Rs 1 lakh annually.
• The PM also announced that the government would launch a new scheme to help the urban poor build houses in cities. Under this program, they would receive relief in interest rates and loans taken from banks to construct their houses.

What are the key announcements?

• Vishawa Karma Yojana: The government will launch Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana with an allocation of ₹13,000 to 15,000 crore in the next month for those with traditional skills.
• The scheme was announced in the Budget 2023 and will be launched in September, on the Vishwakarma Jayanti.
• The PM Vishwakarma Scheme aims to improve the quality, scale and reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople and to integrate them with the domestic and global value chain.
• This would result in the economic empowerment of such workers, especially those belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Communities, women, transgender and other weaker sections of the society.
• Lakhpati Didi Scheme: The government is planning skill development training for two crore women under the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme that aims to encourage them to start micro-enterprises.
• The women would be trained in skills like plumbing, LED bulb making and operating and repairing drones among others.'Lakhpati Didi' scheme has been in place in some states.
• Scheme for urban poor to build houses: The government would launch a new scheme to help those living in rented houses in cities to build their own homes.
• Under the scheme, the government would provide relief in the interest on home loans to such families which live in cities but stay in rented homes, slums and unauthorized colonies and want to build a home of their own.
• The government already has a scheme to address the housing shortage for the urban poor called the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U) launched in 2015.
• The PMAY-U is a flagship mission of the government which is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• The mission aims to address the urban housing shortage among the economically backward sections, including the slum dwellers by ensuring a ‘pucca’ house to all eligible urban households by 2022.
• The scheme period has been extended up to December 2024 in order to complete all the houses sanctioned without changing the funding pattern and implementation methodology.
• A total of 75.51 lakh houses have been completed out of which 71.39 lakh have been occupied till now under the PMAY-U.
• To increase the number of 'Jan Aushadhi Kendra: The government is working to increase the number of 'Jan Aushadhi Kendra' (subsidised medicine shops) from 10,000 to 25,000.
• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses.
• PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.

FAQs

MCQ

Question: With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the following statements: (UPSC-2016)

1. Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two percent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year.
2. This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2