Central Schemes Government is concerned about the proliferation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) 110. Government is concerned about the proliferation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) 110. and Additional Central Assistance (ACA) schemes. They were 173 in number at the end of the 11 Plan. I am glad to announce that the schemes will be restructured into 70 schemes. Each th scheme will be reviewed once in two years. Central funds for the schemes will be given to the States as part of central plan assistance. Hon'ble Members will be glad to know that, in 2013 -14, I expect to transfer resources to the tune of 5,87,082 crore to the States and UTs under share of ` taxes, non-plan grants and loans, and central assistance.

I make three promises Madam Speaker, before I close this part of my speech, I wish to draw a picture of three 111. Madam Speaker, before I close this part of my speech, I wish to draw a picture of three 111. faces that represent the vast majority of the people of India. The first is the face of the woman. She is the girl child, the young student, the sportswoman, the homemaker, the working woman, and the mother. The second is the face of the youth. He is impatient, she is ambitious, and both represent the aspirations of a new generation. The third is the face of the poor who look to the government for a little help, a scholarship or an allowance or a subsidy or a pension. To each of them, on behalf of the Government, the Prime Minister and the Chairperson of the UPA, I make a promise. To the women of India: We have a collective responsibility to ensure the dignity and 112. safety of women. Recent incidents have cast a long, dark shadow on our liberal and progressive credentials. As more women enter public spaces - for education or work or access to services or leisure - there are more reports of violence against them. We stand in solidarity with our girl children and women. And we pledge to do everything possible to empower them and to keep them safe and secure. A number of initiatives are under way and many more will be taken by Government as well as non-government organisations. These deserve our support. As an earnest of our commitment to these objectives, I propose to set up a fund - let us call it the Nirbhaya Fund - and Government will contribute 1,000 crore. Ministry of Women and Child ` Development and other ministries concerned will be requested to work out the details of the structure, scope and application of the fund. To the youth of India: A large number of youth must be motivated to voluntarily join skill 113. development programmes. I propose to ask the National Skill Development Corporation to set the curriculum and standards for training in different skills. Any institution or body may offer training courses. At the end of the training, the candidate will be required to take a test conducted by authorised certification bodies. Upon passing the test, the candidate will be given a certificate as well as a monetary reward of an average of 10,000 per candidate. Skill-trained ` youth will give an enormous boost to employability and productivity. On the assumption that 10,00,000 youth can be motivated, I propose to set apart 1,000 crore for this ambitious scheme. ` I hope that this will be the trigger to extend skill development to all the youth of the country. To the poor of India: The Direct Benefit Transfer scheme has captured the imagination 114. of the people, especially the poor. The Government is the government of the people. The money is the money belonging to the people. When we say 'Aapka paisa aapke haath', why should anyone oppose it? We have made a modest and cautious beginning on the 1 of January, 2013. st Nearly 11 lakh beneficiaries have received the benefit directly into their bank accounts. All around us, we see the smiles on the faces of the dalit girls and the tribal boys who have received