Indira Awaas Yojana – Fulfilling the Need for Rural Housing

Shelter is a basic need of a citizen which is critical for determining the quality of human life. A roof over the head endows a shelterless person, with an essential asset and improves his physical and mental well being. Hence, fulfilling the need for rural housing and tackling housing shortage particularly for the poorest is an important task to be undertaken as part of the poverty alleviation efforts of the Government. The Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in the rural areas for construction of dwelling units. It has been in operation since 1985-86. The funding of IAY is shared between the Centre and States in the ratio of 75:25. In the case of Union Territories, entire funds of IAY are provided by the Centre. In case of North East States, the funding ratio between the Centre and States is 90:10. The ceiling on construction assistance under IAY is Rs. 45,000 per unit in the plain areas and Rs. 48,500 in hilly/difficult areas/IAP districts. For upgradation of kutcha house, the financial assistance is Rs. 15,000 per unit. In addition to the unit assistance availed, a beneficiary can also borrow a top-up loan upto Rs. 20,000/- from any nationalized Bank at 4% interest per annum under Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) Scheme. The criteria for allocation of IAY funds to the States and UTs involve assigning 75% weightage to housing shortage and 25% to poverty ratio. The allocation amongst districts is based on 75% weightage to housing shortage and 25% weightage to SC/ST component. Further, 60% of the IAY allocation is meant for benefiting SC/ST families, 3% for physically handicapped and 15% for minorities. Also the IAY houses are expected to be invariably allotted in the name of women. In addition, 5% of the central allocation can be utilized for meeting exigencies arising out of natural calamities and other emergent situations like riot, arson, fire, rehabilitation etc. In order to introduce transparency in selection of beneficiaries, permanent IAY waitlists have to be prepared gram panchayat wise by the States/UTs. These lists contain the name of deserving BPL families who need IAY houses in order of their poverty status based on the BPL list 2002. Gram Sabha select the beneficiaries from the list of eligible BPL households/Permanent IAY waitlist wherever it has been prepared. Construction of an IAY house is the sole responsibility of the beneficiary. Engagement of contractors is prohibited and no specific type, design has been stipulated for an IAY house. However, sanitary latrine and smokless chullah are required to be constructed alongwith each IAY house. For construction of a sanitary latrine, the beneficiary can avail of financial assistance as admissible under the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC).

 Bharat Nirman Programme

Rural Housing is one of the six components of Bharat Nirman Programme. Under Bharat Nirman Programme Phase-I, 60 lakh houses were envisaged to be constructed through IndiraAwaas Yojana all over the country during the four years i.e. from 2005-06 to 2008-2009. Against this target, 71.76 lakh houses were constructed with an expenditure of Rs. 21720.39 crore. The target for the next five years period starting from the year 2009-10, has been doubled to 120 lakh houses. During the last three years of the Bharat Nirman Programme Period-Phase-II approximate 85 lakh houses have already been constructed. Since inception of the IAY scheme about 286.88lakh houses have been constructed with an expenditure of Rs. 85141.13 crore.

 Convergence of Various Centrally Sponsored Schemes with IAY

Under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) each IAY beneficiary can get a free electricity connection to his house, under Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) an IAY beneficiary who will construct a sanitary latrine can get TSC funds in addition to the unit assistance he has got under IAY, all willing IAY beneficiaries can get the benefits available under JanshreeBima and Aam Aadmi Bima policies, under DRI, an IAY beneficiary can borrow up to Rs. 20,000/- from any Nationalized Bank at 4% interest per annum to top up the unit assistance he has got under IAY.

Allotment of Homestead Plot

A scheme was launched on 24th August, 2009 as part of IAY, for providing homestead sites to those rural BPL households whose names are included in the permanent IAY waitlists but who have neither agricultural land nor a house site. Since inception of the scheme, funds amounting to Rs. 347.46 crore have been released to States namely Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra for purchase of land and Rs. 1367.31 crore have been released to Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh,Chhatisgarh, West Bengal, Rajastan, Maharashtra and Jharkand as incentive for additional houses for providing homestead sites.

Monitoring MechanismThe Indira Awaas Yojana is being continuously reviewed through Monthly and Annual Reports received from the States/UTs. Senior officers at the level of Deputy Secretaries and above in the Ministry are appointed as Area Officers for different States/UTs. These Area Officers visit the allotted States/UTs from time to time and inspect the actual implementation of the programme in the field. They also participate in the State Level Coordination Committee Meetings providing thereby, a source of effective link between the policy makers, i.e., the Government and the implementing agencies (States /UT Governments). The programme is also reviewed at the meeting with the State Secretaries of Rural Development and with the Project Directors of DRDAs in the workshops held every year. From April 2007 onwards, an online monitoring mechanism has been put in place to enable DRDAs to upload their monthly progress reports into the website of the Ministry. The web-based local language MIS Programme ‘AWAASsoft’ was launched, this software captures beneficiary-wise data and is accessible to all the stake holders, beneficiaries and citizens at large. During the last year 2011-12, Rs. 9991.20 crore (including Rs. 500.00 crore for Homestead Component) were allocated for Rural Housing for construction of 27.27 lakh houses underIndira Awaas Yojana, against the physical target of construction of 27.27 lakh houses, 24.66 lakh houses were constructed after utilization of Rs. 12814.88 crore and 26.95 lakh houses were under construction. In the current financial year 2012-13, the total budgetary outlay for Rural Housing is Rs. 11075.00 crore. Out of which Rs. 10513.20 crore has been earmarked under Indira Awaas Yojana(IAY) for construction of 30.09 lakh houses and Rs. 553.00 crore for Homestead Component. Rs. 4783.70 crore has already been released as first installment of funds. Against the physical target, 3.83 lakh houses have been constructed so far.

POCSO Act – Providing Child-Friendly Judicial Process

India is home to the largest child population in the world, with almost 42 per cent of the total population under eighteen years of age. Needless to say, the health and security of the country’s children is integral to any vision for its progress and development. One of the issues marring this vision for the country’s future generations is the evil of child sexual abuse. Statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau reveal that there has been a steady increase in sexual crimes against children. According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007, over half of the children surveyed reported having faced some form of sexual abuse, with their suffering exacerbated by the lack of specific legislation to provide remedies for these crimes. While rape is considered a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code, the law was deficient in recognising and punishing other sexual offences, such as sexual harassment, stalking, and child pornography, for which prosecutors had to rely on imprecise provisions such as “outraging the modesty of a woman”. The Ministry of Women and Child Development, recognising that the problem of child sexual abuse needs to be addressed through less ambiguous and more stringent legal provisions, championed the introduction of a specific law to address this offence. The POCSO Act was therefore formulated in order to effectively address the heinous crimes of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 received the President’s assent on 19th June 2012 and was notified in the Gazette of India on 20th June, 2012. The Act is due to come into force shortly, along with the rules being framed under the Act. The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regards the best interests and well being of the child as being of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child. It defines different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative assault, as well as sexual harassment and pornography, and deems a sexual assault to be “aggravated” under certain circumstances, such as when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust or authority vis-a-vis the child, like a family member, police officer, teacher, or doctor. People who traffick children for sexual purposes are also punishable under the provisions relating to abetment in the Act. The Act prescribes stringent punishment graded as per the gravity of the offence, with a maximum term of rigorous imprisonment for life, and fine. In keeping with the best international child protection standards, the Act also provides for mandatory reporting of sexual offences. This casts a legal duty upon a person who has knowledge that a child has been sexually abused to report the offence; if he fails to do so, he may be punished with six months’ imprisonment and/ or a fine. Thus, a teacher who is aware that one of her students has been sexually abused by a colleague is legally obliged to bring the matter to the attention of the authorities. The Act, on the other hand, also prescribes punishment for a person, if he provides false information with the intention to defame any person, including the child. The Act also casts the police in the role of child protectors during the investigative process. Thus, the police personnel receiving a report of sexual abuse of a child are given the responsibility of making urgent arrangements for the care and protection of the child, such as obtaining emergency medical treatment for the child and placing the child in a shelter home, should the need arise. The police are also required to bring the matter to the attention of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) within 24 hours of receiving the report, so the CWC may then proceed where required to make further arrangements for the safety and security of the child. The Act also makes provisions for the medical examination of the child designed to cause as little distress as possible. The examination is to be carried out in the presence of the parent or other person whom the child trusts, and in the case of a female child, by a female doctor. The Act further makes provisions for avoiding the re-victimisation of the child at the hands of the judicial system. It provides for special courts that conduct the trial in-camera and without revealing the identity of the child, in a manner that is as child-friendly as possible. Hence, the child may have a parent or other trusted person present at the time of testifying and can call for assistance from an interpreter, special educator, or other professional while giving evidence; further, the child is not to be called repeatedly to testify in court and may testify through video-link rather than in the intimidating environs of a courtroom. Above all, the Act stipulates that a case of child sexual abuse must be disposed of within one year from the date the offence is reported. Another important provision in the Act is that it provides for the Special Court to determine the amount of compensation to be paid to a child who has been sexually abused, so that this money can then be used for the child’s medical treatment and rehabilitation. The Act is a welcome piece of legislation, in that it recognises almost every known form of sexual abuse against children as punishable offences, leaving little room for ambiguity in its interpretation. Further, by providing for a child-friendly judicial process, the Act encourages children who have been victims of sexual abuse to bring their offender to book and seek redress for their suffering, as well as to obtain assistance in overcoming their trauma. It makes the different agencies of the State, such as the police, judiciary and child protection machinery, collaborators in securing justice for a sexually abused child; working together, they can ensure that the child is given an opportunity to obtain justice for the harm suffered, and begin the process of rebuilding the child’s life and future.

New Technology can Print High Resolution Images without Ink

New Technology can Print High Resolution Images without Ink

A Team of scientists including one of Indian-origin have created the highest possible resolution images about 1, 00,000 DPI in full colour without ink or dyes. The researches from Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) at Singapore have demonstrated an innovative method for producing sharp ,full spectrum color images at 1,00.000 DPI, which can be applicable in reflective color displays, anti-counterfeiting, and high density optical recording.

New MD for State bank of Mysore

New MD for State bank of Mysore

Shri SHARAD SHARMA has taken charge as Managing Director of State bank of Mysore on 13 August 2012. Prior to this, he was working for State Bank of India as the Chennai Circle Head of the bank. He is a 1977 batch Probationary Officer from SBI. He has held the positions of Chief General Manager - Risk Management, SBI; General Manager, Network, in New Delhi and Mumbai; General Manager, Project Finance and General Manager (Global Markets). He was also posted in SBI Banking Subsidiary, SBI (Canada), Toranto.

Pak. Highest Civilian Award “Nishan-i-Imtiaz” to Saadat Hasan Manto

Pak. Highest Civilian Award “Nishan-i-Imtiaz” to Saadat Hasan Manto

The Writer Saadat Hasan Manto honoured with the Pakistan’s highest award “Nisan-i-Imtiaz”. He died at the age of  42 in 1955. Saadat Hasan Manto is known for his short stories, especially those that explored the impact of the partition of the subcontinent into India & Pak. in 1947. He ended a career as a scriptwriter in Mumbai to move to Pakistan with his family in early 1948. Along with Manto, renowned singer Mehdi Hassan too was posthumously honoured with “Nishan-i-Imtiaz”. Hassan Popularly known as the “Shahenshah-e-Ghazil” who died at the age of 84 years in June 2012.

Committee to Review RRB’s

Committee to Review RRB’s

The Government of the India has decided to review the viability, standards of regional rural banks and their manpower and working. A 6-member committee headed by the executive director of the National Bank for Agriculture and rural development, S.K.Mitra. The government wants the committee to examine economic condition of RRB and their branches and whether they would be profitable after migrating to a new technology. The Main Agenda of this panel is to make stronger the RRB.

Indian Urdu Literature Gopi Chand Narang to get Rare Pakistani’s Honour

Indian Urdu Literature Gopi Chand Narang to get Rare Pakistani’s Honour

Indian Urdu literature Pro. Gopi Chand Narang name figures in the list of civilian honours announced by Pakistan on its Independence Day. He has been conferred “Sitara-i-Imtiaz” (Star of excellence) the third highest civilian honour bestowed by the nation. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004. He was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu 1993 for Sakhtiyaat, Pas-Sakhtiyaat and Mashriqi Sheriyaat. It was great that an Indian selected for Pakistan’s highest honour for his selfless work for Urdu. Eminent poet Josh Mahihabadi also selected for ‘Hilal-i-Imtiaz’.

Hindi cinematographer Ashok Mehta died

Hindi cinematographer Ashok Mehta died

On 15 August 2012, 65 years old Hindi cinematograoher Ashok Mehta died. Who was suffering from advanced lung cancer and was in and out of hospital since February at a mumbai hospital. He worked with shyam benegal, Girish Karnad and shekhar Kapur, hugely popularized Sunhash Ghai. He did films like Utsav, Mandi, MANDI and TRIKAAL, BANDIT QUEEN, 36 chowsinghee Lane.

Coimbatore gets “Best Corporation”award

Coimbatore gets “Best Corporation”award

Tamil Nadu C.M. Jayalalitaa Presented the “Best Corporation” award and a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakh to Mayor S.M. Velusamy and Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy at the Independence Day celebrations held in Chennai. This award was in recognition of the achievements the corporation made in tax collection, education, solid waste management, health etc. This corporation had improved the tax collection in the year 2011-12 to 89% by adopting series of measures, including computerization of data and introduction of e-payment option.

Prime Minister’s Shram Awards for 2011 Announced

Prime Minister’s Shram Awards for 2011 Announced

On 15 August 2012, Union Ministry of Labour and Employment announced the Prime Minister Shram Awards for year 2011.

This year, no nomination was found suitable for the presitigious Shram Ratna Award.

Six nominations for the Shram Bhushan Award, Thirty Three nominations for Shram Vir/Shram Veerangana and twenty nine nominations for Shram Shree/Shram Devi Awards have been selected. Even though, the total number of Shram Awards is 33, the number of workers receiving the Awards is 68 (Including six women), as some of the Awards have been shared by workers and/or teams of workers consisting of more than one worker. These include 52 workers from the public sector and 16 workers from the private sector.

•  Six nominations were found suitable for the Shram Bhushan Award for the year 2011. Shram Bhushan awards carries a cash award of Rs. 1, 00,000/- and a ‘Sanad’.  The awards are given to Shri Baikunth Sharma,Ghan Shyam Mandal, Utpal Kumar (Jointly) all from Bokaro Steel Plant, Bokaro. Smt. B.N. Shanthamma from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Bangalore and Shri Biswajit Kar from Tata Steel Ltd., Jamshedpur and Shri Rajesh Kumar Dwivedi from Tata Steel Ltd., Jamshedpur.

• Thrity Three nominations were found suitable for the Shram Veer/Veerangana Award. Shram Veer/Veerangana awards carry a cash prize of RS.  60,000 and a ‘Sanad’.

• Twenty Nine nominations were found suitable for the Shram Shree/Devi Award. Shram Shree/Devi Awards comprise of a cash prize of RS. 40,000 and a ‘Sanad’.

•  Shram Awards were set up by the Government of India in 1985 to recognize the outstanding contributions of workers in different fields.

GK SERIES

GK SERIES

1. This is the World’s most Active Volcano?
2. India’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) dedicated to the aerospace industry has been launched at?
3. The book`Beyond The Last Blue Mountain'written by R.M.Lala is the biography of which industrialist?
4. In which river is India's largest riverine island Majuli is situated ?
5. In 1958, who became the first Indian to receive Raman Magsaysay Award ?
6. Which city is served by Jolly Grant Airport ?
7. What term is used to refer the large number which is formed by writing digit 1 followed by 100 zeros ?
8. Which is the only state in India to have Common Civil Code in force ?
9. `Dreams from My Father' and `The Audicity of Hope' books are authored by which American President ?
10. Binola village, the scheduled site of the Indian National Defence University (INDU), is in which state ?

ANSWERS

1. Cotopaxi
2. Hallargi
3. J.R.D.Tata
4. Brahmaputra
5. Vinoba Bhave
6. Dehradun
7. Googol
8. Goa
9. Barack Obama
10. Haryana

National Ganga River Basin Authority

Ganga Action Plan (GAP) is being implemented since 1985 for undertaking pollution abatement activities in the identified polluted stretches of the river Ganga through implementation of works like interception and diversion of sewage, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation works, crematoria works etc. An amount of Rs.1441.44 crore has been released towards implementation of various pollution abatement works in towns along the river Ganga and sewage treatment capacity of 1091 million litres per day (mld) has been created. With the pollution abatement works completed so far, despite significant increase in urbanization, industrialization and growth in population in cities along the banks of river Ganga, the water quality in terms of BOD (Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand) values is reported to have improved as compared to the pre-GAP water quality on major monitoring locations. However, the levels of bacterial contamination in terms of fecal coliform are reported to be exceeding the maximum permissible limit at a number of locations. In light of experience gained in implementation of the river action plans since 1985, the conservation strategy was reviewed by the Government. Accordingly, in February 2009, the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has been constituted as an empowered, planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority with the objective to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic river basin approach. The NGRBA in its first meeting has resolved that under Mission Clean Ganga it will be ensured that by 2020 no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents flow into Ganga and the investments required to create the necessary treatment and sewage infrastructure will be shared suitably between the Central and the State Governments. Projects amounting to Rs. 2598 crore have been sanctioned so far under the NGRBA programme. An expenditure of Rs. 391.37 crore has been made so far towards sanctioned projects in the States under the Authority. Besides, a project with World Bank assistance for abatement of pollution of river Ganga at an estimated cost of Rs. 7000 crore has been approved under the NGRBA for implementation in the States. Expenditure incurred during 2009-2010, 2010-2011 & 2011-2012 under the NGRBA Programme are Rs. 99.74 crores, Rs. 466.43 crores and Rs. 53.44 crores respectively. Of these, expenditure incurred in respect of West Bengal is Rs. 57.08 crores, Rs. 192.36 crores and Nil respectively. It has been decided that from current financial year, year-wise allocation of fund would be made based on the Annual Action plan finalized in consultations with the 5 (five) basin states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhnad and West Bengal. For the financial year 2012-13, the annual allocation has been made for Rs. 512.50 crores under the NGRBA Programme.

Heroes of London Olympics 2012

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports felicitated heroes of London Olympics 2012 at a function organized at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here today. Six medal winners namely, Mr Sushil Kumar, Mr Vijay Kumar, Mr Gagan Narang, Ms Saina Nehwal, Ms M C Mary Kom and Mr Yogeshwar Dutt along with their parents and 47 Athletes and 17 Indian and foreign Coaches who participated at recently concluded London Olympics 2012 were the special guests at today’s function. Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports presided over the felicitation ceremony, which was attended by representatives of Indian Olympics Association, National Sports Federations, officials of the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India ( SAI). More than 2000 young sports persons of “COME & PLAY SCHEME” of SAI and children from several schools added colours to the ceremony. At the function, six young talented sports persons of “Come & Play Scheme” presented cheques of Special Cash Awards to each of medal winners of London Olympics, 2012. The Cheques of cash award of Rs. 30 Lakh each to two Silver medal winners, namely, Mr Sushil Kumar and Mr Vijay Kumar and of Rs. 20 Lakh each to four Bronze Medal winners, namely, Mr Gagan Narang, Ms Saina Nehwal, Ms M C Mary Kom and Mr Yogeshwar Dutt were given away under the “Scheme of Special Award to Medal winners in international Sports events” of the Sports Ministry. After the felicitation function, six medal winners along with rest of members of Indian contingent to London Olympics and more than 2000 young sports persons of “Come & Play Scheme” and school children marched to Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and paid the floral tributes to the martyrs. While speaking earlier at felicitation ceremony , Shri Ajay Maken, lauded the athletes and their coaches for their extra ordinary performance at London Olympics. Keeping in view, best results achieved under “OPEX London 2012” ,Shri Makan announced that a programme on similar lines “OPEX Olympics -2020” would be launched with a target to get 25 Medals. As a part of the programme, all athletes would be provided international and domestic exposure, foreign coaching and other infrastructural facilities, he added. Brief Achievements of Medal Winners at London Olympics are as follows:-

a) SUSHIL KUMAR

 India’s star grappler Sushil Kumar won the men’s 66kg freestyle category silver in the London Olympics. Sushil thrashed Akzhurek Tanatarov of Kazakhastan 9-6 in the semifinals to become first India wrestler to reach the final of Olympic. After taking 3-0 lead in the first round, Sushil was down by his opponent in the second round. However, the Indian wrestler fought back to score 6 points in the final round, finishing with the score of 9-6 at London’s Riverbank Arena. Sushil had earlier defeatedIkhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan in his quarterfinal bout. Sushil Kumar won his opening bout against Ramazan Sahin of Turkey, who had won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

(b) VIJAY KUMAR

Army sharp shooter Vijay Kumar fought a nerve-wracking battle with five other top marksmen to clinch the silver medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event at the Olympic Games. Vijay Kumar beat back the challenge of world champion Alexei Klimov of Russia, Chinese duo of Ding Feng and Zhang Jian and German Christian Reitz in the 40-shot final to finish runner-up in a thrilling finale behind Cuba’s Leuris Pupo who shot his way to the gold with a world record equalling score of 34. The 26-year-old Army subedar from Himachal Pradesh found the target 30 times out of 40 attempts in the series comprising eight rounds of five shots each.

( c) GAGAN NARANG

Opening the medals account for India, Gagan Narang won the country its first medal in the London Olympics 2012. Narang bagged a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle event. Narang has won numerous medals in the ISSF World Cups, World Championship, Commonwealth Games and the ASIAD, besides creating a new world record in 2008.

 (d) SAINA NEHWAL

Saina Nehwal gave India its maiden medal in Olympic Games badminton . Her opponent folded up with a dodgy knee after leading 21-18, 1-0, but Saina was on the threshold of entering the zone from where she might have dominated this bronze playoff, getting her tiring opponent to play long rallies, even as she stumbled, slipped and asked for water breaks.

 (e) MARY KOM

India’s star woman boxer MC Mary Kom, fivetime world champion ensured a piece of history for herself and the country by fetching a bronze in the flyweight 51kg category. “Magnificent Mary”, from Manipur, was the lone Indian in fray when women’s boxing made its Olympic debut in the London Games.

(f) YOGESHWAR DUTT

Yogeshwar Dutt put up a brilliant display of powerpacked freestyle wrestling in the Olympic Games and won a bronze medal. The 29-year-old experienced grappler from Sonepat in Haryana showed tremendous fighting spirit and exhibited excellent technique against three very strong rivals in the repechage rounds to clinch India’s fifth medal of the Games.

Welfare Schemes for Women

Many welfare schemes for women are implemented by Government of India, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The details of major schemes under implementation by Ministry of Women and Child Development for the welfare of women are as under :-

 i. RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL CRECHE SCHEME FOR THE CHILDREN OF WORKING MOTHERS (RGNCS) provides day care facilities to the children in the age group 0-6 years from families with monthly income of less than 12000/-. In addition to being a safe space for the children, the crèches provide services such as supplementary nutrition, pre-school education and emergency health care, etc. 

ii. CENTRAL SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD: The main women welfare related schemes and programmes being implemented by CSWB are family counselling centres, awareness generation programme and condensed courses of education for women. 

iii. NATIONAL MISSION FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN (NMEW) is an initiative of the Government of India for empowering women holistically. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme sanctioned in April 2011 and acts as an umbrella Mission with a mandate to strengthen inter-sectoral convergence. 

iv. WORKING WOMEN’S HOSTEL (WWH) Scheme envisages provision of safe and affordable hostel accommodation to working women, single working women, women working at places away from their home-towns and for women being trained for employment. 

v. SUPPORT TO TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME (STEP) for Women was launched as a Central Sector Scheme during 1986-87. It aims at making a significant impact on women by upgrading skills for self and wage employment. The target group includes the marginalized assetless rural women and urban poor. 

vi. RASHTRIYA MAHILA KOSH (RMK) with a corpus of Rs.100 crore extends micro-finance services to bring about the socio-economic upliftment of poor women. 

vii. INDIRA GANDHI MATRITVA SAHYOG YOJANA (IGMSY) is a Conditional Cash Transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating (P&L) women introduced in the October 2010 to contribute to better enabling environment by providing cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and nursing mothers. 

viii. SWADHAR SCHEME: The Ministry of Women and Child Development had been administering Swadhar scheme since 2001 for Women in difficult circumstances. Under the Scheme, temporary accommodation, maintenance and rehabilitative services are provided to women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism. Another scheme with similar objectives/target groups namely Short Stay Home (SSH) is being implemented by Central Social Welfare Board.

ix. UJJAWALA is a comprehensive scheme for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

India’s Mars Mission

India’s Mars Mission

Making the first formal announcement on the country’s Mars mission, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said India will send a mission to the Red Planet that will mark a huge step in the area of science and technology. “Recently, the Cabinet has approved the Mars Orbiter Mission. Under this Mission, our spaceship will go near Mars and collect important scientific information,” he said addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 66th Independence Day. India will be the sixth country to launch a mission to the Red Planet after the U.S., Russia, Europe, Japan and China. As per the proposal drawn up by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Rs. 450 crore Mars Orbiter Mission is expected to be launched in November next year with a 25 kg scientific payload. The spacecraft is expected to take nearly 300 days to reach the Martian orbit. The spacecraft will be placed in an orbit of 500 x 80,000 km around Mars and has a tentative scientific objective for studying the climate, geology, origin, evolution and sustainability of life on the planet. Scientific payloads for the Mars Orbiter Mission have been short-listed by ISRO’s Advisory Committee for Space Sciences (ADCOS) review committee.