The problem of malnutrition is multi-dimensional and inter-generational in nature, the determinants of which include household food insecurity, illiteracy and lack of awareness especially in women, access to health services, availability of safe drinking water, sanitation and proper environmental conditions and adequate purchasing power etc. The nutritional status of the population is the outcome of complex and inter-related set of factors and cannot be improved by the efforts of single sector or action alone.
The Government accords high priority to the overall issue of malnutrition, particularly, in respect of children, adolescent girls and women and has been implementing several schemes/ programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UTs. These schemes, interalia, include Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Mid Day Meals Scheme, Drinking Water & Total Sanitation Campaign, Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), Targeted Public Distribution System etc. Several of the schemes namely, ICDS, NRHM, Mid Day meal (MDM), SGSY have been expanded to provide for increased coverage and improved services to the people.
To reach out the six services including supplementary nutrition to children below six years, pregnant and lactating mothers the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme has been universalised with special focus on SC/ST and minority habitation. There has been revision in cost norms as well as the Nutritional and Feeding norms of the Supplementary Nutrition component of ICDS.
Showing posts with label social. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social. Show all posts
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
land acquisition - pros & con
Why there is always a clash between farmers and industries? Which is the priority ? Industry , which plans to creates many jobs or food security to wipe out hunger?
This article discusses the array of issues.
This article discusses the array of issues.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
National Council for Tribal Welfare
For cause of welfare of tribals, an apex body ‘National Council for Tribal Welfare’ (NCTW) headed by the Prime Minister has been constituted.
The Council would provide broad policy guidelines to bring about improvement in the lives of the ST community in the country. It would also review the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, implementation of Schedule-V and Schedule-VI of the Constitution, monitor the implementation of Tribal Sub-Plan and the programmes aimed at protecting vulnerable tribal groups. Meetings of the Council would be linked with the meetings of the National Development Council (NDC) to ensure that they are held regularly and the Chief Ministers are able to attend during NDC meeting.
The Council would provide broad policy guidelines to bring about improvement in the lives of the ST community in the country. It would also review the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, implementation of Schedule-V and Schedule-VI of the Constitution, monitor the implementation of Tribal Sub-Plan and the programmes aimed at protecting vulnerable tribal groups. Meetings of the Council would be linked with the meetings of the National Development Council (NDC) to ensure that they are held regularly and the Chief Ministers are able to attend during NDC meeting.
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Personal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2010
The President has assented to the Personal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2010 on 31st August, 2010 and it is published in the Gazette of India as Act 30 of 2010 on 1st September, 2010. The Act has amended the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.
The Act is aimed at bringing gender equality in the matter of guardianship under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 and in the matter of giving in or taking in adoption a son or a daughter by father or mother under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.
Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 & Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 were amended to include mother as Guardian along with father.
Earlier these laws incapacitated a married woman from taking in adoption merely on the basis of her marital status or curtailed the right of mother to give in adoption if father is alive or is of sound mind or has not renounced the world completely and finally. This was discriminatory in nature.
The Act is aimed at bringing gender equality in the matter of guardianship under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 and in the matter of giving in or taking in adoption a son or a daughter by father or mother under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.
Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 & Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 were amended to include mother as Guardian along with father.
Earlier these laws incapacitated a married woman from taking in adoption merely on the basis of her marital status or curtailed the right of mother to give in adoption if father is alive or is of sound mind or has not renounced the world completely and finally. This was discriminatory in nature.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Swavalamban Pension Scheme for the Poor
To encourage people from the unorganised sector to voluntarily save for their retirement and to lower the cost of operations of the New Pension System (NPS) for such subscribers, Government has approved a 'Swavalamban' scheme in the Budget 2010-11, whereby, the Government will contribute a sum of Rs. 1,000 per year to each NPS account opened in the year 2010-11. This scheme "Swavalamban" will be available for persons who join NPS with a minimum contribution of Rs. 1,000 and a maximum contribution of Rs. 12,000 per annum during the financial year 2010-11 and are not members of any statutory Provident Fund. This scheme will be available for another three years and is targeted to benefit about 10 lakh NPS subscribers of the unorganised sector during the year 2010-11.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Steps to Create Awareness about ill effects of Drug Abuse
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has taken the following steps to create awareness in society including among the students about the ill-effects of drug abuse:-
(i) Under the Scheme of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse, financial assistance is provided to Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for organizing Awareness-cum-De-addiction Camps.
(ii) “International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking” is observed on 26th June each year. Workshop on awareness and demand reduction activities, in liaison with NGOs against ill-effects of drug abuse are organized on this event by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD). Further, all the State Education Departments have been advised to observe 26th June as “International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking” to create awareness among students.
(iii) Information regarding ill-effects of drug abuse is also disseminated in regional languages through the All India Radio programme “Sanwarti Jayen Jeevan Ki Rahen
(i) Under the Scheme of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse, financial assistance is provided to Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for organizing Awareness-cum-De-addiction Camps.
(ii) “International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking” is observed on 26th June each year. Workshop on awareness and demand reduction activities, in liaison with NGOs against ill-effects of drug abuse are organized on this event by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD). Further, all the State Education Departments have been advised to observe 26th June as “International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking” to create awareness among students.
(iii) Information regarding ill-effects of drug abuse is also disseminated in regional languages through the All India Radio programme “Sanwarti Jayen Jeevan Ki Rahen
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Kaushal Vikas Yojana
A scheme titled ‘Kaushal Vikas Yojana’ has been formulated for setting up of 1500 new Industrial Training institutes (ITIs) and 5000 Skill Development Centers (SDCs) in PPP mode preferably in un- serviced blocks (where no ITI/ITC exists) including hilly, desert and minority concentration areas of the country. This division of the Government will definitely help in mitigating the regional imbalance in the field of vocational training.
As per existing instructions, there is no restriction in opening of ITIs/ITCs at any location in the country. Location for opening of ITI (Government ITI) is decided by the State Government. However, private entrepreneurs are free to set up ITCs (private) in any part of country and there is no restriction. For affiliation purpose they have to meet requirements of ‘National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT)’ norms.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Prohibition of Child Marriages
As per the report of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) conducted by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare during 2005-06, the Infant Mortality Rate is 50.4 for mothers in age group (20-29) years and is 76.5 for mothers with age less than 20 years. The Maternal Mortality Ratio in India as per Sample Registration System (2004-06) 254 per lakh. Several factors including child marriage affect the infant mortality and maternal mortality rates.
To reduce Maternal mortality, several steps have been taken which include:
Promoting institutional deliveries, strengthening of infrastructure, training of doctors in management of emergency obstetric care and skilled Birth Attendance, providing Ante-natal and Post Natal Care, organising Village Health and Nutrition Days, engagement of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in the community.
For reducing child mortality/infant mortality rates, steps taken include:
Training of service providers in Integrated Management of Neo-natal & childhood illness, training of ASHAs in Home based new born care, setting up of sick new born care units at district hospitals, promoting exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, strengthening routine immunisation programme, focussing on reduction in morbidity and mortality due to Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) and Diarrhoeal Diseases.
In order to prohibit child marriage,
”The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006” has been enforced w.e.f 1st November 2007. Also, awareness generation and advocacy measures are continuously being undertaken by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
To reduce Maternal mortality, several steps have been taken which include:
Promoting institutional deliveries, strengthening of infrastructure, training of doctors in management of emergency obstetric care and skilled Birth Attendance, providing Ante-natal and Post Natal Care, organising Village Health and Nutrition Days, engagement of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in the community.
For reducing child mortality/infant mortality rates, steps taken include:
Training of service providers in Integrated Management of Neo-natal & childhood illness, training of ASHAs in Home based new born care, setting up of sick new born care units at district hospitals, promoting exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, strengthening routine immunisation programme, focussing on reduction in morbidity and mortality due to Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) and Diarrhoeal Diseases.
In order to prohibit child marriage,
”The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006” has been enforced w.e.f 1st November 2007. Also, awareness generation and advocacy measures are continuously being undertaken by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Implementation of Right to Education Act
The Government has taken various steps for implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, including notifying the (a) Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010; (b) National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) as the academic authority to lay down teacher qualifications, (c) National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as the academic authority to lay down the curriculum and evaluation procedure, and (d) National Advisory Council (NAC) under the Act. Model Rules have been prepared and circulated to the States to enable them to formulate the State Rules under the Act. In addition, Government has taken steps to align the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) norms with the provisions of the RTE Act.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Schemes for Unorganised Workers
The Government is implementing various schemes providing for social security to the workers in the unorganized sector. A Statement indicating schemes under schedule-I of the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 is as under:
(i) Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme providing for old age pension to BPL family at the age of 65 yrs. a. It includes five components of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) viz. Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi Disability Pension Scheme, and Annapurna. |
(ii) National Family Benefit Scheme assistance to destitute bread earners.
(iii) Janani Suraksha Yojana for safe motherhood.
(iv) Handloom Weavers’ comprehensive Welfare Schemes providing for health insurance and life & disability cover to handloom weavers.
(v) National Scheme for welfare of Fisherman and Training & Extension providing housing assistance, insurance and training.
(vi) Janashree Bima Yojana providing for life and accidental cover to BPL and marginally above BPL persons.
(vii) Aam Admi Bima Yojana providing for life and accidental cover to landless rural household
(viii) Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana providing for smart card based cashless health insurance cover to BPL families in unorganigsed sector. The scheme became operational from 01.04.2008
problem of malnutrition
The problem of malnutrition is multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral in nature. The Government is implementing several schemes which have an impact on the nutritional status of the people.
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Schemes is being implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development through state Governments/UT Administrations.
The scheme provides a package of six services, namely supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition & health education, immunization, health check-up and referral services. Three of the six services namely immunization, health check-up and referral services are delivered through the public health system of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
The Government has recently taken various steps which include univesalisation of the schemes with special focus on SC/ST and minority habitations, revision in cost norms as well as the Nutritional and Feeding norms of the Supplementary Nutrition component of ICDS.
Besides the ICDS, the Government is implementing a number of other schemes throughout the country, which directly or indirectly affect the nutritional status of women and children. Some of these are as follows.
Reproductive & Child Health Programme under the National Rural Health Mission being implemented by the ministry of Health & Family Welfare has interventions which include Janani Surasksha Yojana (JSY) to promote institutional deliveries; Immunization; Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness; Specific Programmes to prevent and combat micronutrient deficiencies of Vitamin A and Iron& Folic Acid through Vitamin A supplementation of children till the age of 5 years and Iron & Folic acid.
(i) Iron and folic acid supplementation for infant, pre-school children adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women; iodized salt is being provided for combating Iodine Deficiency Disorders.
(ii) Mid-Day Meal programme of Department of School Education and Literacy.
(iii) Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls and Kisori Shakti Yojna of Ministry of Women and Child Development.
(v) Provision of safe drinking water under the National Drinking Water Programme and sanitation under the Total Sanitation Campaign of Ministry of Rural Development etc.
Child Labour
As per 2001 census, the total number of children working in various occupations including hazardous occupations in the Country was 1.26 core. As a result of various welfare measures taken by the Union Government and the State Governments coupled with stricter enforcement of the provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 the number of working children has declined to 90.75 lakh as estimated by National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) in 2004-05.
The Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged strategy for eradication of child labour as follows:
The Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged strategy for eradication of child labour as follows:
i. A legislative action plan in form of Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986.
ii. Project-based action plan in areas of high concentration of Child Labour under National Child Labour Project Scheme.
iii. Focus on general development programmes for the benefit of the families of Child Labour.
National Skill Development Mission
Government has launched a National Skill Development Mission consisting of following three institutions:
Prime Minister’s National Council on Skill Development-under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister, for policy direction and review of spectrum of skill development efforts in country.
National Skill Development Coordination Board-under the chairmanship of Dy. Chairman Planning Commission to enumerate strategies to implement the decisions of PM’s council.
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a non-profit company under the Companies Act, 1956. The corporation is being funded by trust “National Skill Development Fund” to which the Government has contributed a sum of Rs.995.10 crores. The corporation is expected to mobilize about Rs.15, 000 crores from other governments, public sector entities, private sector, bilateral and multilateral sources. The corporation is expected to meet the skill training requirements of the labour market including that of unorganized sector.
National Policy on Skill Development (NPSD) approved by the Government has set a target for skilling 500 million persons by the year 2022. Concerned central Ministries will involve respective departments of state Governments and other stake holders to achieve the target. The details of target for different Ministries/Departments is at Annex-I. MoL&E would train 100 million and the same is planned to be achieved through the following schemes:
Name of the Scheme Target
Craftsmen Training Scheme 29.4 mn
Skill Development Centres 57.2 mn
Apprenticeship Training Scheme 05.4 mn
Skill Development Initiatives
through MES 11.0 mn
DGE&T field institutes 0.5 mn
Total 103.5 mn
NOTE: Distribution amongst ministries/Departments has been kept higher that 500 millions.
The objective of NSDC is to fulfill the growing need for skilled manpower in the country, mainly by fostering private sector initiatives in skill development.
The salient features of NSDC are:
1. Upgrade skills of work force through significant industry involvement especially for underprivileged sections of society and backward regions of the country.
2. Enhance, support and coordinate private sector initiatives for skill development through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models.
3. Prioritize initiatives that can have a multiplier or catalytic effect.
NSDC has a target of skilling / upskilling 150 mn people by the year 2022 and so far 3 proposals have been cleared to train 10,39,000 persons in next 10 years.
National Skill Development Fund NSDF (Trust) has allocated Rs.200 Crores to NSDC during FY 2009-10. NSDC has, so far released Rs 13.05 crores for
funding of following three proposals. During financial year 2009-10, a sum of Rs 7.15 crore was released. Rs 3.69 crores was released to Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council / Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery, Jaipur, Rajasthan and Rs. 3.46 crore was released to BASIX Academy for Building Life Long Employability Limited a company having Pan-India presence.
During the current financial year 2010-11, Rs.5.90 Crore has been released to Gram Tarang Employability Training Services Private Limited, Orissa. NSDC does not release funds to State governments.
The objective of NSDC is to skill/ upskill 150 million people in India
NSDC will play a significant enabling role in some of essential support services like curriculum, faculty and their training, standards and quality assurance, technology platforms, student placement mechanisms and setting up standards and accreditation systems in partnership with industry associations. All these with participation of industry would improve quality of human resources.
National Innovation Council to be set up Sam Pitroda to Chair the Council
Prime Minister has approved the setting up of a National Innovation Council to prepare a road map for the Decade of Innovation ¬2010-2020. The National Innovation Council would be headed by Shri Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations.
The Council has been given the mandate to evolve an Indian model of innovation focusing on inclusive growth and creating an appropriate eco¬system conducive to fostedng inclusive innovation. It will delineate appropriate policy initiatives within the government required to spur innovation. It will also promote the setting up of Sectoral Innovation Councils and State Innovation Councils.
While encouraging all important sectors of the economy to innovate, it will take special efforts to facilitate innovation by micro small and medium enterprises. Innovation in public services delivery and encouraging multi-disciplinary and globally competitive approaches for innovations would be focused on by the Council.
The Council has been given the mandate to evolve an Indian model of innovation focusing on inclusive growth and creating an appropriate eco¬system conducive to fostedng inclusive innovation. It will delineate appropriate policy initiatives within the government required to spur innovation. It will also promote the setting up of Sectoral Innovation Councils and State Innovation Councils.
While encouraging all important sectors of the economy to innovate, it will take special efforts to facilitate innovation by micro small and medium enterprises. Innovation in public services delivery and encouraging multi-disciplinary and globally competitive approaches for innovations would be focused on by the Council.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Kaushal Vikas Yojana
The aim of ‘Kaushal Vikas Yojana (KVY)’ is to provide more equitable access to skill development opportunities across the country by reducing regional imbalances in skill development institutions.
Immediate objective of KVY is to set up 1500 new Industrial Training Institutes, 5000 Skill Development Centres across the country.
The institutes will be set up preferably in unserviced blocks (blocks where no ITIs/ITCs exists), difficult & backward areas including hilly areas, border areas etc.
The scheme is yet to be started and would be implemented through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode involving three partners:-
(i) Private Training Provider playing the lead role;
(ii) State Governments are expected to extend all the possible logistical support, provide land & basic infrastructural facilities free of cost; and
(iii) Central Government providing Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
Immediate objective of KVY is to set up 1500 new Industrial Training Institutes, 5000 Skill Development Centres across the country.
The institutes will be set up preferably in unserviced blocks (blocks where no ITIs/ITCs exists), difficult & backward areas including hilly areas, border areas etc.
The scheme is yet to be started and would be implemented through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode involving three partners:-
(i) Private Training Provider playing the lead role;
(ii) State Governments are expected to extend all the possible logistical support, provide land & basic infrastructural facilities free of cost; and
(iii) Central Government providing Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
Monday, August 9, 2010
Schemes for Unorganised Workers
The Government is implementing various schemes providing for social security to the workers in the unorganized sector. A Statement indicating allocation and expenditure under some of the schemes under schedule-I of the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 is as under:
(Rs. in crores)
S. No | Scheme | Allocation | Expenditure | ||||
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | ||
1. | (i) Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme providing for old age pension to BPL family at the age of 65 yrs. (ii) National Family Benefit Scheme assistance to destitute bread earners. | 2489.61* | 2889.73* | 45000* | 1968.27* | 3121.93* | 4055.82* |
2. | Janani Suraksha Yojana for safe motherhood. | 135.51 | 250.00 | 1281.47 | 258.32 | 880.17 | 1241.33 |
3. | Handloom Weavers’ comprehensive Welfare Schemes providing for health insurance and life & disability cover to handloom weavers. | 40 | 115.60 | 124.00 | 40 | 115.58 | 123.92 |
4. | Handicraft Artisans’ comprehensive Welfare Schemes providing for health insurance and life & disability cover to artisans. | 5.60 | 80.08 | 83.91 | 5.01 | 76.08 | 83.91 |
5. | National Scheme for welfare of Fisherman and Training & Extension providing housing assistance, insurance and training. | 23.81** | 21.38** | 25.00** | 7.51 | 6.38 | 13.17 |
6. | Janashree Bima Yojana providing for life and accidental cover to BPL and marginally above BPL persons. | 500*** | 132.79 | 2.04.50 | 267.13 | ||
7. | Aam Admi Bima Yojana providing for life and accidental cover to landless rural household | - | 1000*** | 500*** (scholarship fund) | 44.81 | 43.53 (includes scholarship) | |
8. | Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana providing for smart card based cashless health insurance cover to BPL families in unorganigsed sector. The scheme became operational from 01.04.2008 | - | - | 250 | - | - | 101.65 |
* includes five components of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) viz. Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi Disability Pension Scheme, and Annapurna. ** This is combined allocation for all four components i.e. Development of Model Fishermen Villages, Group Accident Insurance, Saving-cum- Relief an Training-cum-Extension ***This is a corpus fund | |||||||
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