PIB – May 31 , 2019


Topics Covered- Schemes for the vulnerable sections of the society.

PM-Kisan Scheme Extended

Context

  • The Union Cabinet approved a new Central Sector Scheme that will empower farmers across India. This scheme will provide pension cover to our industrious farmers.

PM-Kisan scheme extended

  • PM-KISAN Scheme extension to include all eligible farmer families irrespective of the size of land holdings.
  • It extends the benefit of Rs 6,000 per year under the PM-KISAN scheme to all farmers in the country
  • The revised Scheme is expected to cover around 2 crore more farmers, increasing the coverage of PM-KISAN to around 14.5 crore beneficiaries, with an estimated expenditure by Central Government of Rs. 87,217.50 crores for year 2019-20.
  • It is a new Central Sector Scheme.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
  • To provide an assured income support to the small and marginal farmers, the Government launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) in February, 2019.
  • Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land upto 2 hectares, were provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year.
  • This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal installments of Rs. 2,000 each.
  • Around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families were expected to benefit from this.
  • It would provide assured supplemental income to the most vulnerable farmer families and also meet their emergent needs especially before the harvest season.
  • It would pave the way for the farmers to earn and live a respectable living.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana

  • In the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana small and marginal farmers will get a minimum fixed pension of Rs 3,000 per month on attaining the age of 60 years.
  • “In the initial phase, the government will cover minimum 5 crore small and marginal farmers in the first three years,”
  • This scheme is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for small and marginal farmers across the country, with the entry age of 18-40 years.

 The salient features of this scheme (PM-KPY)

  • A voluntary and contributory pension scheme for all Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) across the country.
  • Entry age of 18 to 40 years with a provision of minimum fixed pension of Rs.3,000/- on attaining the age of 60 years.
  • The Central Government shall also contribute to the Pension Fund an equal amount as contributed by the eligible farmer.
  • After the subscriber’s death, while receiving pension, the spouse of the SMF beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension, provided he/she is not already an SMF beneficiary of the Scheme.
  • If, the death of the subscriber happens during the period of contribution, the spouse shall have the option of continuing the Scheme by paying regular contribution.
  • The farmers can opt to allow his/her monthly contribution to the Scheme to be made from the benefits drawn from the Pradhan Mantri KisanSAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme directly.
  • Alternatively, a farmer can pay his monthly contribution by registering through Common Service Centres (CSCs) under MeitY.

Pension scheme for shopkeepers, traders

  • The Government has approved a new scheme that offers pension coverage to the trading community.
  • This is a part of the Prime Minister’s vision to provide a robust architecture of universal social security.
  • Features of this Scheme
  • Under this scheme all shopkeepers, retail traders and self-employed persons are assured a minimum monthly pension of Rs. 3,000/- month after attaining the age of 60 years.
  • All small shopkeepers and self-employed persons as well as the retail traders with GST turnover below Rs. 1.5 crore and age between 18-40 years, can enrol for this scheme.
  • The scheme would benefit more than 3 crore small shopkeepers and traders.
  • The scheme is based on self-declaration as no documents are required except Aadhaar and bank account.
  • Interested persons can enrol themselves through more than 3,25,000 Common Service Centres spread across the country.
  • The Government of India will make matching contribution in the subscribers’ account.

Topic covered- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, issues relating to poverty and hunger.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis

Context

  • Union Cabinet clears new initiative to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis to support the livestock rearing farmers.

The threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis

  • These diseases are very common amongst the livestock – cow-bulls, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs etc.
  • If a cow/buffalo gets infected with FMD, the milk loss is upto 100% which could last for four to six months.
  • Further, in case of Brucellosis the milk output reduces by 30%, during the entire life cycle of animal.
  • Brucellosis also causes infertility amongst the animals.
  • The infection of brucellosis can also be transmitted to the farm workers and livestock owners. Both the diseases have a direct negative impact on the trade of milk and other livestock products.

Care and compassion for animals

  • In case of FMD, the scheme envisages vaccination coverage to 30 crore bovines (cows-bulls and buffaloes) and 20 crore sheep/goat and 1 crore pigs at six months’ interval along with primary vaccination in bovine calves.
  • The Brucellosis control programme shall extend to cover 100% vaccination coverage of 3.6 crore female calves.
  • The programme so far has been implemented on cost sharing basis between the Central and State Governments.
  • Now, the Central Government has decided to now bear the entire cost of the programme to ensure complete eradication of these diseases and better livelihood opportunities for all the livestock rearing farmers in the country.

Cause of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD

  • The disease is caused by a virus of which there are seven ‘types’, each producing the same symptoms, and distinguishable only in the laboratory.
  • Immunity to one type does not protect an animal against other types.
  • Animals pick up the virus either by direct contact with an infected animal or by contact with foodstuffs or other things which have been contaminated by such an animal, or by eating or coming into contact with some part of an infected carcase.
  • Outbreaks have been linked with the importation of infected meat and meat products.
  • The disease can also be spread by people, vehicles and other objects that have been contaminated by the virus.

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