Lok Sabha Question No. 547 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Inclusive Development
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 547

DUE FOR ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Inclusive Development

## 547. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has prioritized inclusive development and is also working towards its philosophy  of  Sabka  Saath  Sabka  Vikas  to  facilitate  inclusive  development  covering  in  specific, farmers, women, youth, OBCs, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, divyangjan and economically weaker sections, and overall priority for the underprivileged (vanchiton ko variyata) and there has also been a sustained focus on Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and North East; and;

(b) if so, the details thereof and progress made till date along with funds sanctioned/spent under each scheme/programme designed till now?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a):  The  primary  policy  objective  of  the  Government  is  development  of  all  segments  of  the population. Its focus on inclusive growth is reflected in commitment to 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' to reduce poverty and inequality, provide social security, income generation and livelihood options, and improve the quality of life of the vulnerable sections of the population in the country.

In  this  regard,  the  Government  is  implementing  a  number  of  targeted  programmes  such  as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAYNRLM),  National  Social  Assistance  Programme  (NSAP),  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand Up India Scheme,  Umbrella  Programmes  for  Development  of  Minorities  and  Other  Vulnerable  Groups; Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojna;  fund  transfer  under  PM-KISAN,  PM  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  claim payments; fertiliser subsidies; interest subvention for dairy cooperatives; Agri-Infrastructure Fund for farm gate infrastructure etc.

Further,  the  Government  has  implemented  various  programmes,  including  Jal  Jeevan  Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, PM Ujjwala Yojana, PM Saubhagya Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), etc.  to bring about overall improvement in the quality of life of the people through universal access to basic amenities.

The Government has also implemented the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) since 2018, aimed at comprehensive development of identified districts across various States/UTs, in six areas: (i)  health  &  nutrition,  (ii)  education,  (iii)  agriculture  &  water  resources,  (iv)  financial  inclusion,  (v) skill  development,  and  (vi)  basic  infrastructure.  In  order  to  further  strengthen  this  initiative,  the Government has recently  launched  the  Aspirational  Blocks  Programme  covering  500  blocks  for provision of essential government services across these six domains.

During COVID-19, Government made several targeted interventions to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on the lives and livelihoods of the people, particularly the vulnerable sections of the society through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), implemented since April 2020.  These included, inter alia, world's largest free food program, cash transfers to women Jan Dhan  account  holders,  insurance  cover  for  health  workers  fighting  COVID-19,  increase  in MGNREGA wages, assistance to low wage earners in organised sectors, etc.

In keeping with the concern and sensitivity towards poor and vulnerable sections of society, the PMGKAY  scheme  was  extended  till  December  2022.  Under  the  extended  PM-GKAY  each beneficiary was given an additional 5 kg free ration per person per month in addition to his normal quota of food grains under the NFSA. Further, the benefit of free ration can be availed through portability by any migrant labour or beneficiary under One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan from nearly 5 lakh ration shops across the country.

Continuing  with  the  commitment  to  ensure  food  and  nutritional  security,  the  Government  is implementing,  from  1  January,  2023,  a  scheme  to  supply  free  food  grain  to  all  Antyodaya  and priority households for the next one year, under PMGKAY. The entire expenditure of about Rs. 2 lakh crore will be borne by the Central Government.

The Union Budget 2023-24 has prioritized inclusive development through various measures such as  initiatives  for  the  agriculture  sector  (for  example:  digital  public  infrastructure  for  agriculture; Agriculture Accelerator Fund; focus on cotton crop and horticulture; making India a global hub for millets; enhanced agriculture credit target etc); skilling, health, and education. The Budget further announced the Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission to improve socio-economic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) to ensure basic facilities for PVTG families and habitations. The outlay for PM Awas Yojana has also been enhanced by 66 per cent to over Rs. 79,000 crore to achieve "Housing for all".

Further,  recognizing  that  the  investments  in  infrastructure  and  productive  capacity  have  a  large multiplier impact on growth and employment, the Budget of 2023-24 announced an increase in the capital investment outlay by 33 per cent to Rs. 10 lakh crore, which would be 3.3 per cent of GDP and  nearly  three  times  the  outlay  in  2019-20.  Moreover,  the  50-year  interest-free  loan  to  state governments has been continued for one more year to spur investment in infrastructure and to incentivize complementary policy actions, with a significantly enhanced outlay of Rs. 1.3 lakh crore.

As regards specific initiatives for Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and North East, the following, among others, are some recent initiatives:

(i) Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) was announced as a  new  Central  Sector  Scheme  in  the  Union  Budget  2022-23  with  the  objectives  of  funding infrastructure convergence, in the spirit of PM GatiShakti; supporting social development projects based on felt needs of the region; enabling livelihood activities for youth and women and filing the development gaps in various sectors. The Scheme has an outlay of Rs. 6,600 crore for the 4 year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26.

## Measures for UT of Jammu and Kashmir

(ii)  The  progress  of  projects  being  implemented  in  the UT  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir under  the Prime  Minister's  Development  Package-2015  has  been  accelerated  in  various  sectors  such  as Roads, Power, Health, Education, Tourism, Agriculture, Skill Development etc. In terms of basic amenities, 100 per cent saturation has been achieved in 17 Individual beneficiary centric schemes, including Saubhagya, Ujala, Ujjwala and Indradhanush schemes. being implemented in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

(iii)  A  new  Central  Sector  Scheme for Industrial  Development of  Jammu and Kashmir has been notified in February, 2021 for the period 2021-22 to 2036-37. The aim of the Scheme is to give a fresh thrust to industry and services led development of the State with emphasis on job creation, skill  development  and  sustainable  development by  attracting  new  investments  and  nurturing the existing ones.

(iv)  In  the  UT  of  Jammu and Kashmir, 10.49 lakh beneficiaries are covered under pensions (old age,  widow,  disability).  7,76,265  beneficiaries  are  covered  under  child  development  services. 57,306 beneficiaries are covered under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.

(v)  Under Tejaswini ,  a  specially  tailored  self-employment  scheme  for  empowerment  of  young women, young girls are provided  with  systematic  assistance to  establish  independent  livelihood means through skilling and provision of subsidy.

(vi)  Under Mumkin ,  a  customized  livelihood  generation  program,  youth  are  being  facilitated  to procure  Small  Commercial  Vehicles  for  establishing  a  sustainable  line  of  livelihood  through provision of subsidy.

(vii) Under PARVAAZ, an initiative of Government of Jammu & Kashmir, aspirants are sponsored for  coaching  for  various  professional  competitive  examinations  including  those  conducted  by UPSC/ JKPSC/ SSC/ JKSSB.

(viii) In order to ensure digital empowerment of SC villages, 31 Common Service Centers, 34 smart classes, 1237 solar lights, transformers, passenger sheds were established and skill Training has been  conducted  in  the  selected  SC  Villages  which  while  providing  digital  services  has  also provided employment to the youth.

(ix) For empowerment and inclusive development of the tribal population, several initiatives have been  launched  including  development  of  model  villages  under  the  Scheme  'Special  Central Assistance (SCA) to Tribal Sub- Scheme (TSS)' and Pradhan Mantri Aadi Adarsh Gram Yojana; development of smart schools; road infrastructure; augmentation of power supply and coverage of tribal villages with potable drinking water. For migratory tribes, the government has taken initiatives such  as  transport  services  during  biannual  migration,  mobile  health  care,  mobile  veterinary services, transit accommodations etc.

## Measures for UT of Ladakh

(x)  The  Government  has  taken  various  initiatives  to  promote  industrial  development  in  the handloom, handicraft & food-processing sector with a focus on the indigenous products of Ladakh. The  UT  is  leveraging  benefits  from  the  Central  Sector  schemes  such  as  the  Pradhan  Mantri Employment  Guarantee  Programme  (PMEGP),  Pradhan  Mantri  Formalisation  of  Micro  Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Van Dhan Vikas Kendras(VDVK), Weaver Mudra schemes etc.

(xi)  As  part  of  'Operation  SADBHAVANA',  Indian  Army  is  undertaking  multiple  welfare  activities such  as  running  of  Army  Goodwill  Schools,  Infrastructure  Development  Projects  and  Education Tours etc. for the children living in remote areas of UT of Ladakh.

(xii)  Under  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana,  assistance  is  provided  to  fish  farmers belonging to the ST/SC/women for construction of trout raceways with supply of inputs for income generation  and  livelihood.  159  trout  raceways  units  have  been  constructed.  Assistance  is  also provided for establishment of hatchery units in private sector.

(xiii)  A  development  package  amounting  to  Rs.  129.5  crore  is  being  implemented  in  the  UT  of Ladakh for development of Changthang region of the UT of Ladakh through budgetary provisions of the UT of Ladakh since financial year 2021-22. Till the end of financial year 2022-23, Rs. 79.562 crore has been spent.

(xiv)  For farmers, under Kisan Credit Card scheme, loan to 9387 farmers has been released for maintenance  of  livestock,  poultry  and  fisheries.  Under  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture  (MIDH)  programme,  an  amount  of  Rs.  30.7374  crores  have  been  disbursed  to  the farmers  including  those  from  underprivileged  sectors  of  the  society  for  the  development  of horticulture sector.

(b)  The  details  of  the  funds  allocated  and  actually  spent,  for  various  years,  for  the  Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Central Sector Schemes are available in Statement 4A and Statement 4B, respectively, in the 'Expenditure Profile' document, which is part of the annual Union Budget documents. The details can be accessed at the URL: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in.

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