Pashudhan Bima Yojana :
Haryana Government launched the Pashudhan Bima
Yojana in Jhajjar on 29th July. The Yojna was launched by
the state’s Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister, O P
Dhankar. The Yojna was started in accordance to the
recommendations made in Swaminathan Report. Animal
Husbandry and Dairying Department has set a target to
cover one lakh cattle under Pashudhan Bima Yojana.
Key Facts:
• Pashudhan Bima Yojana will provide insurance cover
to cattle breeders in the state at different premium
rates for different animals.
• Insurance cover will be provided at a premium of
` 100 for cows, buffaloes, bulls, camels and at ` 25 for
sheep, goat and pig for a period of three years.
• Under it, the insurance companies would give
compensation in case of death of animal (cattle). The
scheme is free of cost for cattle breeders from the
scheduled castes.
• The state Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Department has set a target to cover one lakh cattle
under Pashudhan Bima Yojana
Rajasthan becomes first state to approve sewage & waste water policy:
Rajasthan has become the first state to give go-ahead to
the sewage and waste water policy, in the country. The
state cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister
Vasundhara Raje in Jaipur approved the first-of-its-kind
policy.
Key Facts :
• Under this policy, all district headquarters, heritage
cities, and cities in the state which have more than
one lakh population will be included.
• Waste water treated under it will be used in irrigation
and agricultural work. The requirement of next 30
years will be covered in this poilcy.
• It will be compulsory for every house in the state to
connect with sewage system in those cities which
have 100% sewage system in next five years
‘Namami Gange’ programme
Union minister Uma Bharti on 7th July launched 43 projects
worth ` 250 crore under Namami Gange programme in
Uttarakhand. The government has lined up 1,000 projects
in different states including Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal as part of the
National Mission for Clean Ganga. Bharati said the second
phase of the project will begin by October 2018.
Key Facts :
• The Namami Gange Programme aims at cleaning the
holy river and ensuring its unfettered flow. Union
government has allocated ` 20,000 crore budget for it.
• Under it, projects such as modernization and
redevelopment of Ghats, crematoriums and other
development activities will be undertaken.
• Besides it will also undertake project for development
of sewage infrastructure and treatment, tree plantation,
afforestation, pilot drain project, interceptor drain
project, trash skimmers and conservation of
biodiversity.
• The projects were launched simultaneously in five
basin states of the river Ganga viz. Uttarakhand, Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Besides,
projects were also launched in Delhi and Haryana
through which Ganga’s largest tributary Yamuna
passes.
UJALA Scheme :
The National LED programme – Unnat Jyoti by Affordable
LEDs for All (UJALA) was launched by the Union
Government on May 1. The scheme was launched by Union
Minister for State (IC) for Power, Coal and Renewable
Energy Piyush Goyal in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Key facts :
• The UJALA scheme is being implemented by Energy
Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of
PSUs under the Union Ministry of Power.
• It is LED based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme
(DELP).
• Under the scheme, 3 crore LED Bulbs will be
distributed in Madhya Pradesh in the next 6 months.
• People of Madhya Pradesh will get subsidised 9W
energy efficient LED bulbs by paying just 85 rupees
per LED bulb.
• The scheme will help reduce electricity bills of
consumers, contribute to the energy security of India
and also help in environment protection.
• It will help in saving energy around 24 crore units
every year.
Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas Yojana
The Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas Yojana for widows was
launched on 14 April by the Jharkhand Chief Minister
Raghubar Das. The objective of the scheme is to create
equality and harmony in society, ensuring all round
development.
Highlights of the Yojana :
• The programme is with a budget allocation of 80 crore
rupees and a target of 11000 units (houses) for widows
was set in 2016-17 financial year.
• An amount of 75000 rupees would be granted to build
a house in districts in hilly terrains and 70000 rupees
in plains and the amount would be distributed among
the beneficiaries in three instalments in their bank
accounts.
• The widows would also get pension.
National Dialysis Services Programme
With an aim to help poor patients suffering from renal
(kidney) disease, who require regular dialysis, the
government has started a ‘National Dialysis Services
Programme’.
Highlights of the scheme :
• The scheme will provide health cover up-to ` 1 lakh
per family.
• For senior citizens of the age 60 years and above
belonging to this category, an additional top-up
package up to ` 30,000 will be provided.
• About 2.2 lakh new patients of end stage renal disease
get added every year resulting in additional demand
for 3.4 crore dialysis sessions.
• With approximately 4,950 dialysis centres in India,
largely in the private sector and concentrated in the
major towns, the demand is only half met.
• Every dialysis session costs about ` 2,000 – an annual
expenditure of more than ` 3 lakh. Besides, most
families have to undertake frequent trips, often over
long distances, to access dialysis services, incurring
heavy travel costs and loss of wages.
• Finance Minister has also proposed to exempt certain
parts of dialysis equipment from basic customs duty,
excise/CVD and SAD to further reduce the cost