Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY)
- Context: Recently, the Union Minister for Culture informed the Lok Sabha about the Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY).
About Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY)
- Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) is an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Culture.
- Its main aim is to promote, protect, and develop India’s rich art and cultural heritage.
- The scheme provides financial support to eligible artists, cultural organizations, and institutions working in the field of performing arts.
Sub-Schemes under KSVY
- Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) – Supports the traditional teacher-student system in performing arts.
- Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture – Provides grants for cultural activities and events.
- Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture – Offers scholarships and fellowships to artists and researchers.
- Financial Assistance for Construction of Tagore Cultural Complexes (TCC) – Supports the construction of cultural centres named after Rabindranath Tagore.
- Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists – Provides financial help to senior artists facing financial difficulties.
- Seva Bhoj Yojana – Gives benefits to charitable and religious institutions that provide free meals.
- National Gandhi Heritage Site Mission – Protects and develops places associated with Mahatma Gandhi.
- National Award Scheme – Recognizes and honours outstanding achievements in art and culture.
Features of Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana
- Financial Assistance: Provides grants to artists, NGOs, cultural organizations, and institutions to conduct cultural activities.
- Support for Cultural Events: Encourages festivals, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and cultural performances at local, state, and national levels.
- Development of Cultural Infrastructure: Provides funds for building and upgrading auditoriums, museums, cultural centres, and similar facilities.
- Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Helps preserve traditional music, dance, handicrafts, folk traditions, rituals, and other cultural practices, including those recognized by UNESCO.
- Inclusive Development: Encourages participation of rural communities, tribal groups, and other underrepresented sections of society.
- Nationwide Coverage: Promotes art and culture across all states and regions of India, ensuring balanced cultural development.
SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme
- Context: SMILE Beggary Scheme Operational In 216 Cities Across The Country, Over 10,200 Individual Successfully Rehabilitated Under SMILE Beggary Scheme.
- The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing the SMILE Scheme to achieve the vision of “Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat” (Begging-Free India).
About the Scheme
- Type: Central Sector Scheme.
- Objective: To rehabilitate people engaged in begging through a dignified approach by providing shelter, support, and livelihood opportunities.
- Coverage: Currently implemented in 216 cities, with a target to expand to 295 cities and rehabilitate 35,000 people by 2030–31.
Sub-Schemes under SMILE
- Comprehensive Rehabilitation for the Welfare of Transgender Persons.
- Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging.
Key Features of the SMILE Scheme
- Complete Rehabilitation: Identifies, rescues, shelters, provides healthcare, counselling, and rehabilitation to beneficiaries.
- Livelihood Support: Offers skill training, education, and sustainable employment opportunities.
- Social Reintegration: Helps beneficiaries become self-reliant and reintegrate into society with dignity.
- Convergence Approach: Implemented through coordination between the Central Government, States/UTs, District Administrations, and linked with schemes like DAY-NULM, NRLM, and Mission Vatsalya.
- Digital Monitoring: Uses the SMILE-Beggary National Portal for registration, monitoring, and tracking of beneficiaries and rehabilitation centres.
Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)
- Background: The ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana’ (PMDDKY) scheme was launched with the aim of revolutionizing Indian agriculture by making it highly productive, sustainable, and economically profitable for farmers.
- The 100 districts selected under this scheme were chosen based on three criteria: low productivity, low cropping intensity, and low agricultural credit disbursement.
- The number of districts selected from each state is determined based on the net sown area and the number of operational agricultural landholdings. This ensures balanced regional development and promotes agricultural growth in areas where it is most needed.
About PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)
- It was announced in the Union Budget for 2025-26; NITI Aayog’s ‘Aspirational Districts Programme’ served as the inspiration for this initiative.
- The scheme integrates 36 existing agricultural programs across 11 ministries (e.g., PM-KISAN – cash transfer, PMFBY – crop insurance, PMKSY – irrigation) to deliver multiple benefits.
- This integration effort also encompasses state-level schemes and local partnerships with the private sector.
- Objective: To support 1.7 crore farmers; priority is given to small and marginal farmers—who own less than 2 hectares of land and constitute 86% of India’s agricultural population.
- Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Duration: 6 years (from 2025-26 to 2030-31).
- Financial Allocation: A total of ₹1.44 lakh crore, at the rate of ₹24,000 crore per year for six years.
- Of this, 40% is allocated for subsidies, 30% for infrastructure (warehousing, irrigation), 20% for credit, and 10% for training and market support.
- The number of districts selected from each state is determined based on the net sown area and the number of operational agricultural holdings.
- This ensures balanced regional development and promotes agricultural growth in areas where it is most needed.
- Scope/Coverage: 100 backward districts characterized by low crop yields, water scarcity, and limited access to resources (with at least one district from each state).
- A maximum of 12 districts from the state of Uttar Pradesh will be included in the scheme.
- Focus Areas: Regions with low crop yields (e.g., wheat yields below the national average of 3.5 tonnes per hectare), moderate cropping intensity (less than 1.55 crop cycles per year), and low credit penetration.
Key Features:
- Covers 100 districts with low agricultural performance.
- Implemented by converging 36 existing schemes across 11 ministries or departments.
- Focuses exclusively on agriculture and allied sectors.
- Aims to increase farmers’ income and promote sustainable rural development.
Beneficiaries:
- Small and marginal farmers
- Women farmers
- Young farmers practicing modern agriculture
- Youth venturing into agribusiness or value-added product manufacturing
- Farmers in low-productivity regions
- Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
- Workers in agriculture and allied sectors.
Significance of scheme convergence under MDDKY
- Avoids the duplication of multiple schemes for the same activity.
- Facilitates the efficient use of government funds and resources.
- Currently, only 45% of the agricultural sector’s capital expenditure is utilized for asset creation.
- However, in sectors such as water supply and transport, more than 75% of expenditure is allocated to asset creation.
- Therefore, converging schemes will enhance the cost-effectiveness of spending in the agricultural sector as well.
Yuva Sahakar Scheme
- Context: Recently, the Ministry of Cooperation released details regarding the financial assistance provided to cooperative societies and the beneficiaries under the ‘Yuva Sahakar’ scheme for the 2022-2025 financial years.
- The ‘Yuva Sahakar’ scheme aims to encourage newly formed cooperative societies that possess new and/or innovative ideas.
About the ‘Yuva Sahakar’ Scheme
- “Yuva Sahakar – Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme” aims to promote newly formed cooperative societies that have new and/or innovative ideas.
- The scheme encourages cooperative societies comprising young entrepreneurs that have been operational for at least three months.
- Loan Facility: The loan provided under this scheme is a long-term loan (up to 5 years). As an incentive, the NCDC provides a 2% interest subsidy on the applicable interest rate of the term loan used for project activities.
- Implementation: The scheme is implemented nationwide by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
Key Features of the ‘Yuva Sahakar’ Scheme
- The NCDC has created a dedicated fund with liberal terms to enable youth to avail themselves of this scheme.
- It is linked to the ‘Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund,’ worth ₹1,000 crore, which has been approved by the NCDC.
- It offers additional incentives to cooperative societies operating in the North-Eastern region and in ‘aspirational districts.’
- Special concessions are provided to women and individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- The ‘Yuva Sahakar’ scheme is part of ‘Sahakar 22’, an initiative aimed at doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
