12-Jul-2023: Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana: Empowering the Elderly for a Dignified Life
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been working towards creating an inclusive and equitable society for all its citizens. Over the past nine years, the Ministry has launched several schemes and initiatives aimed at empowering marginalized sections of society, including students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes through Scholarships, Elderly Citizens, Safai Karmcharis, and Transgender people. The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), introduced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering senior citizens in India. This scheme recognizes the invaluable contribution made by the elderly to society and seeks to ensure their well-being and social inclusion. By recognizing the invaluable contributions of the elderly to society, the government aims to empower and uplift them, ensuring their active participation and inclusion in all aspects of life.
23-Mar-2023: Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) scheme to provide old age pension to unorganized sector workers
As per the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, the Government is mandated to provide Social Security to the workers of unorganised sector including vendors and street side workers by formulating suitable welfare schemes on matters relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection etc. The details of the social security schemes are as follows:
- The Life and Disability cover is provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). PMJJBY is available to the people in the age group of 18 to 50 years having a bank/post office account who give their consent to join/enable auto debit. Risk coverage under this scheme is for Rs. 2.00 lakh in case of death of insured, due to any reason, at an annual premium of Rs. 436/- which is to be auto debited from the subscriber’s bank/post office account. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) is also available to the people in the age group of 18 to 70 years with a bank/post office account who give their consent to join/enable auto debit. The risk coverage under the scheme is for Rs 2.00 lakh in case of accidental death or total permanent disability and Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial permanent disability; due to accident at a premium of Rs. 20 per annum which is to be deducted from the account holder’s bank/post office account through ‘auto-debit’.
- The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) provides an annual health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per eligible family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization corresponding to 1949 treatment procedures across 27 specialties. It is a completely cashless and paperless scheme. The beneficiary families under AB-PMJAY have been identified from Social Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 basis 6 deprivation and 11 occupational criteria across rural and urban areas.
- In order to provide old age protection, the Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme in 2019. It provides monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. The workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs. 15000/- or less and not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS (Govt. funded) can join the PM-SYM Scheme. Under this scheme 50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. Under the scheme, the fund towards Government’s contribution is provided to LIC being the fund manager.
- Government has launched PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme on June 01, 2020 to facilitate collateral free working capital loan to street vendors to restart their businesses, which were adversely impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ministry is conducting regular review meetings with all the stakeholders of the PMSYM scheme to monitor the progress on regular basis. Call center and grievance management systems have also been established in order to address the queries and grievances of beneficiaries and to monitor the operational aspects of the schemes.
The benefit of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan yojana is only after attaining the age of 60 years in the form of monthly pension of Rs. 3000/-. As such no registered worker under this scheme has attained the age of 60 years.
The Government had launched e-Shram portal in August 2021 with an objective to create National Database of Unorganised Workers and to facilitate delivery of Social Security Schemes/Welfare schemes to the unorganised workers including vendors and streetside sellers.
7-Dec-2022: Divya Kala Mela concluded grandly on Wednesday
The 6-day Divya Kala Mela, organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on the Kartavya path of India Gate, Delhi, concluded grandly on Wednesday. On this occasion, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the online sell portal www.nhfdcfondation.org for the disabled and distributed a seed grant amount of more than 16 lakhs to 75 Divyang by IDEA-SAKSHAM for their self-employment. Along with this, employment letters from various companies were also been provided to a dozen Divyangs. At the same time, more than 200 Divyang entrepreneurs participated in the fair were also given an amount of 5-5 thousand for life insurance.
On this occasion, Dr. Virendra Kumar while sharing his experience of Divya Kala Mela said, “Divyang people have made different types of products and have brought them here for the people of the society. At the same time, it was emphasized that the participation of disabled people is essential in Saksham Bharat - Samarth Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The objective of the Ministry to promote self-reliance of Divyangjans has been achieved in Divya Kala Mela to a great extent. On-line service is being made available for the disabled people and their products for sale in the country and abroad.
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said at the closing ceremony that "Divya Kala Mela", has achieved the aim to fulfill the resolution of "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and provided large scale employment and self-employment to Divyang artisans, artists, craftsmen, entrepreneurs from every nook and corner of the country. Strong drive to connect with opportunities has been proven.
Minister of State Pratima Bhowmik said that after the formation of the Kartavya Path, our ministry has got this first opportunity to organize the Divya Kala Mela and AatmaNirbhar Bharat has been shown by the Divyangs by displaying their excellent products in the fair. Divyangs were also awarded for their excellent performance in different fields at the fair. Divyang Mohammad Naseem was awarded for the maximum sale of two lakh sixty thousand, Rajan Gawade for best stall, Himanshi Anand for Kalamkari and Art and Kalashri for best woman category.
In this fair, the people of Delhi appreciated the art and skill of the differently-abled and took the goods manufactured by them. More than Rs 80 lakh was sold in this 6-day fair. IDEA- SAKSHAM provided training as well as distribution of seed grants to differently-abled entrepreneurs in the Mela.
In "Divya Kala Mela" more than 200 Divyang craftsmen, artists, entrepreneurs from 22 states and union territories displayed their skills, art and entrepreneurship. Cultural programs were organised in the evening, which was enjoyed by the people participated in the mela.
2-Dec-2022: 'Divya Kala Mela' starts for the first time on Kartavya Path
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurates the Divya Kala Mela in Kartavya Path at India Gate, Delhi. Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Sushri Pratima Bhowmik was also present on the occasion. The Divya Kala Mela will be held from 2nd to 7th December and it’s aims to provide a great platform for the products and craftsmanship of Divyaang artisans, craftsmen and artisans from across the country. On this occasion, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said that the objective of the fair is to bring self-reliance in the lives of Divyangjan, he said that this type of event will provide a big platform to the Divyangjans as well as display and sale of their products and in future Will also provide an opportunity to connect with big businessmen. With this, he said that Divya Kala Mela will now be organized across the country. The four finance corporations under this ministry, NHFDC, NBCFDC, NSFDC and NSKDFC k provide financial assistance under term loan schemes and micro finance schemes to the artisans through various channel partners.
The ambitious plan of P M Modi, P.M. is Training in skill upgradation and skill development under Daksh is also important for our target group of corporates as the group is mostly engaged in traditional economic activities which require continuous improvement of their skills as per the market requirement. Therefore, to make the economic activities of the target groups compatible with market competition, emphasis is also being laid on skill up gradation. They just need to identify their needs and potential and training and match it with their access to government resources and soft loans. PM Rs 495 crore has been distributed to more than 5 lakh trainees under Daksh.
The event will provide an exciting experience to the visitors to see vibrant products, handicrafts, handlooms, embroidery work and packaged food items, etc. from different parts of the country including Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern States. Around 200 Divyang artisans, artists and entrepreneurs from 22 states and union territories will showcase their products and skills in the fair. The fair showcased products from the categories of home decor & lifestyle, clothing, stationery & eco-friendly products, packaged food, organic products, toys & gifts, personal accessories-jewellery, clutch bags, a fair for all' Vocal for Local' and will provide an opportunity to see and buy products made by Divyang artisans through their additional resolution, the six-day Divya Kala Mela will open from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm. It will host a range of cultural activities including performances by differently-abled artists and eminent professionals. Visitors can also relish their favorite food from different regions of the country at the event.