General Studies- II
Topic- Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Kisan Credit Card(KCC) Saturation drive
Context
Kisan Credit Card(KCC)Saturation drive for PM-KISAN beneficiaries.
About
- To enable universal access to Concessional Institutional credit, Government has initiated a drive in Mission Mode for saturating all PM-KISAN beneficiaries with Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
- This will help all such farmers to get short term loan for crop & animal/fish rearing at a maximum interest of 4% on timely repayment.
Kisan Credit Card Scheme
- The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in 1998 for providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window.
- KCC covers post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loan, consumption requirements of farmer household, working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture, investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities.
- The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is implemented by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks and Cooperatives.
Objective of KCC Scheme
The scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit for the comprehensive credit requirements of farmers under single window for their cultivation and other needs as:
- To meet the short term credit requirements for cultivation of crops
- Post-harvest expenses
- Produce Marketing loan
- Consumption requirements of farmer household
- Working capital for maintenance of farm assets, activities allied to agriculture, like dairy animals, inland fishery and also working capital required for floriculture, horticulture etc.
- Investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities like pump sets, sprayers, dairy animals, floriculture, horticulture etc
- Short term credit requirements of rearing of animals, birds, fish, shrimp, other aquatic organisms, capture of fish.
Salient features Scheme
- Eligible farmers to be provided with a Kisan Credit Card and a pass book or card-cum-pass book.
- Limit to be fixed on the basis of operational land holding, cropping pattern and scale of finance.
- Card valid for 5 years subject to annual review.
- Conversion/reschedulement of loans also permissible in case of damage to crops due to natural calamities.
- Security, margin, rate of interest, etc. as per RBI norms.
- Crop loans disbursed under KCC Scheme for notified crops are covered under Crop Insurance Scheme, to protect the interest of the farmer against loss of crop yield caused by natural calamities, pest attacks etc.
Eligibility and credit limit
- All farmers-individuals/Joint borrowers who are owner cultivators.
- Tenant farmers, Oral lessees and Share Croppers etc.
- SHGs or Joint Liability Groups of farmers including tenant farmers, share croppers etc.,
- Fishers, Fish Farmers (individual & groups/ partners/ share croppers/ tenant farmers), Self Help Groups, Joint Liability Groups and women groups.
Loan amount
- Scale of finance for the crop (as decided by District Level Technical Committee) x Extent of area cultivated + 10% of limit towards post-harvest / household / consumption requirements + 20% of limit towards repairs and maintenance expenses of farm assets + crop insurance, PAIS & asset insurance.
- For every successive years (2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th year), the limit will be stepped up @10%.
- For Marginal Farmers
- A flexible limit of Rs.10,000 to Rs.50,000 be provided (as Flexi KCC) based on the land holding and crops grown.
- The composite KCC limit is to be fixed for a period of five years on this basis.
Advantages of the KCC Scheme to the farmers
- Simplifies disbursement procedures
- Removes rigidity regarding cash and kind
- No need to apply for a loan for every crop
- Assured availability of credit at any time enabling reduced interest burden for the farmer.
- Helps buy seeds, fertilizers at farmer’s convenience and choice
- Helps buy on cash-avail discount from dealers
- Credit facility for 3 years – no need for seasonal appraisal
- Maximum credit limit based on agriculture income
- Any number of withdrawals subject to credit limit
- Repayment only after harvest
- Full year’s credit requirement of the borrower taken care of. Minimum paper work and simplification of documentation for withdraw of funds from the bank.
General Studies- II
Topic- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (NSP 2017-25)
Context
The National Strategic Plan (2017-25) was approved by Govt. and has been operational since then in the entire country with the goal of Ending TB by 2025.
About National Strategic Plan (NSP) to control cases of Tuberculosis
The Government launched the National Strategic Plan (NSP) to control cases of Tuberculosis in the country during the period 2012-2017.
The key components of the NSP (2012-2017) are:
- Strengthening and improving the quality of basic DOTS services.
- Deploying improved rapid diagnostics to the field level
- Expanding efforts to engage all care providers
- Expanding diagnosis and treatment of drug resistant TB cases
- Improving communication, outreach and social mobilization.
- Promoting research for development and implementation of improved tools and strategies.
- Utilizing Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools for strengthening TB surveillance.
The implementation of National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (NSP 2017-25) has started in January 2017.
Reasons behind the increase in TB cases
- As per the Global report 2017 of the World Health Organisation (WHO), India accounts for 1,47,000 estimated MDR-RR cases which is 24% of the Global cases.
- The reason behind the increase in TB cases can be attributed to various social determinants which perpetuate the spread of TB infection.
These social determinant factors like:
Poverty, under-nutrition, crowded and poorly ventilated living, air pollution, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, etc.
Government’s initiative
The details of steps taken by the Government are as follows:
- early diagnosis of all the TB patients, prompt treatment with quality assured drugs and treatment regimens
- Suitable patient support systems to promote adherence.
- Engaging with the patients seeking care in the private sector.
- prevention strategies including active case finding and
- contact tracing in high risk / vulnerable population
- Airborne infection control.
- Multispectral response to address social determinants.
- Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization activities to promote awareness regarding TB among all the sections of the society.
NIKSHAY Portal
- NIKSHAY has been launched by the Government of India with the intention of creating a tuberculosis free nation.
- NIKSHAY is a web enabled application, which facilitates monitoring of universal access to TB patients data by all concerned.
- The system has been developed jointly by the Central TB Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Informatics Centre (NIC).
- It was launched by the Government of India in June 2012.
For Prelims
Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)
Highlights
- Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) has been established under provision of the Companies Act, 2013.
- The amounts such as dividends, applications money, matured deposits etc, which have remained unpaid or unclaimed for a period of 7 years are required to be transferred to the IEPF.
- The Amounts credited to IEPF are maintained under the Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266 of the Constitution).
- Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority has been established under the provisions of section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013.
- The Authority is under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Hunar Haat
Highlights
- The “Hunar Haat” is to be organised by Ministry of Minority Affairs at India Gate Lawns, New Delhi.
- Theme : ‘Kaushal Ko Kaam’
- “Hunar Haat” has become a “Mega Mission” of indigenous Craft, Cuisine & Culture and economic empowerment of master artisans, craftsmen.
