Saptha Moksha Puri
7-Apr-2023: Ministry of Tourism promotes Seven Liberation destinations (Saptha Moksha Puri) of India by undertaking promotional campaigns in domestic and global markets.
Ministry of Tourism, inter-alia, promotes tourist destinations of India, including the Saptha Moksha Puri (Seven Liberation destinations), viz., Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridwar), Kashi (Varanasi), Kanchi Avantika (Ujjain), Puri (Odisha) and Dwaravati (Dwaraka, Gujarat), in a holistic manner. It undertakes promotional campaigns in domestic and global markets through electronic, print and digital media to promote the various tourist destinations and products of the country. Further promotions are also undertaken through the official web-site as well as through social media handles of the Ministry.
Further, Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance under the ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ Scheme with the objective of integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations in consultation with the respective State Governments/ Union Territories (UTs).
Financial assistance is also provided under the Swadesh Darshan for the development of tourism infrastructure. The identification of sites is mainly the prerogative of the State Governments/UT Administrations. The projects are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence to Scheme guidelines, utilization of funds released earlier, etc. The Swadesh Darshan Scheme has been revamped to SD 2.0 for development of sustainable and responsible tourist destinations and Dwarka has been selected for development under SD 2.0.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
3-Apr-2023: 24.35 Lakh Additional Irrigation Potential Created Under PMKSY During 2016-2022
After launch of the umbrella scheme Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in 2016, 99 on-going major/medium irrigation projects, along with 7 phases, were taken for partial financial assistance under PMKSY-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), with pari passu implementation of Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD&WM). Out of these, 50 projects have been reported to be completed so far. Further, 23 of the remaining projects have physical progress more than 90%, while another 14 projects have physical progress between 80% to 90%. Against a target of 34.64 lakh hectare of additional irrigation, during 2016-2022 an additional irrigation potential of 24.35 lakh hectare has been created through these projects.
Further, inclusion of projects other than the 99 prioritized projects has been permitted for implementation of PMKSY-AIBP during 2021-2026. In view of the same, six additional projects have been included under PMKSY-AIBP, in which an additional irrigation potential of 0.12 lakh hectare has been created during 2021-22.
As seen from the above, PMKSY-AIBP continues to perform satisfactorily in providing assistance to the States to complete the advanced stage irrigation projects held up due to financial constraints, to provide irrigation benefits to the farmers.
PMKSY was launched during the year 2015-16, with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices, etc.
With the inclusion of AIBP under PMKSY in 2016, a paradigm shift was made in implementation of the programme. During 2016-17, 99 ongoing major/medium irrigation projects were prioritized in consultation with States and included under PMKSY-AIBP, for completion in mission mode, along with their Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works. Funding mechanism through NABARD was approved by the Government for both Central and State share. Thus, the strategy was devised for completion of the identified priority irrigation projects, which the States chose to be completed in mission mode, with assured funding through NABARD.
Further, based on the experience gained during 2016-2021, the strategy for implementation of PMKSY-AIBP during the period 2021-2026 has been further partially modified, by adding other projects through a liberalised inclusion criteria, and funding through budgetary resources.
Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) under NITI Ayog has carried out evaluation of PMKSY for the period 2015-2020. AIBP has been graded as the ‘satisfactory’ (highest category) in parameters such as relevance, efficiency, impact and equity. Further, grading for effectiveness has been determined as ‘average’ (second best category), while sustainability of the programme has been graded as ‘needs improvement’.
Government of India reviews its schemes, including PMKSY-AIBP, from time to time, and the requisite changes are brought about to make the implementation more effective. Further, the State Governments are mandated to monitor implementation of irrigation projects under PMKSY-AIBP and ensure their proper operation and maintenance. In addition, such projects are regularly monitored by Central Water Commission, as well as by a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Physical and financial progress of these projects is also monitored through a dedicated dashboard, backed with a management information system maintained by this Ministry.
Poshan Vatikas
31-Mar-2023: Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-gardens- a key plank of the Poshan Abhiyaan to enable the right kind of nourishment
POSHAN Abhiyaan (erstwhile National Nutrition Mission) was launched in March 2018 to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner and to achieve reduction in stunting and wasting in children (0-6 years) as well as reduction in anemia in women, children and adolescent girls. The Abhiyaan has been rolled out in all the 36 States/UTs. A key plank of the Abhiyaan to enable the right kind of nourishment are the Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-gardens that are being set up across the country to provide easy and affordable access to fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants and herbs. To encourage diet-diversity and consumption of wholesome local produce, around 4 lakhs Poshan Vatikas have been developed at AWCs. 1.10 lakh medicinal plants were planted in 21 districts in 6 States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Mizoram during Poshan Pakhwada 2021.
During Poshan Maah 2022, activities for setting-up nutri-gardens or retro-fitting Poshan Vatikas with backyard poultry / fishery units was carried out across the country. More than 1.5 lakh events on retrofitting Poshan Vatikas with backyard poultry and fishery units have been reported. Also, more than 75 thousand sensitization camps have been conducted to promote millets and backyard kitchen gardens.
Through Poshan Vatikas, aim is to provide a fresh and regular supply of locally produced fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants to women and children straight from a nutri-garden at or near an Anganwadi Centre. Poshan Vatikas can play an important role in enhancing dietary diversity by providing key micronutrients through local fruits and vegetables. Poshan Vatikas are a good example of convergent action on-ground. Beyond the reward of locally available wholesome produce, it will reduce external dependency and make communities Atmanirbhar for their nutritional security.
As per Scheme Guidelines for Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0), indicative salient features of Poshan Vatikas recommend plants/herbs/trees that may be cultivated:
- Green vegetables)- Spinach (palak), Methi, Amaranthus Spr. (Choulai), Asparagus (Shatawari), Bacopamonnieri (Brahmi), Boerhavia (punarnava), Chenopodium (Bathua), Dioscorea (Ratalu)
- Medicinal Plants/ Fruit Trees (5-6 tress): Moringa (Sahajan), Papita, Karhipatta, Lemon (Nimbu), Amla, Punica (Anar) etc
- Boundary crops- Shatavari, Lemon grass, Giloy etc.
Launched on 8th March, 2018, by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescents, pregnant women & lactating mothers. The Abhiyaan is a key component of Mission Poshan 2.0 which seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent eco-system to develop and promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity.
Mission Poshan 2.0 is designed to address the issue of malnutrition through transparency, accountability, balanced diets, diet diversity and quality, greater grassroots involvement and last-mile delivery of services supported by key strategies, viz., corrective strategies to address nutrition related deficiencies, nutrition awareness strategies to develop good eating habits for sustainable health and well-being, strategies for communication and development of green eco-systems such as Poshan Vatikas at or near Anganwadi Centres, wherever possible and in Government led schools and Gram Panchayat lands where benefits can easily be given to women and children. Under Poshan 2.0, focus is on diet diversity, food fortification, leveraging traditional systems of knowledge and popularizing use of millets. Nutrition awareness strategies under Poshan 2.0 aim to develop sustainable health and well-being through regional meal plans to bridge dietary gaps.. Further, greater emphasis is being given on the use of millets for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home rations (not raw ration) at Anganwadi centres for Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Children below 6 years of age, as millets have high nutrient content which includes protein, essential fatty acid, dietary fibre, B-Vitamins, minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, folic acid and other micro-nutrients thus helping to tackle anemia and other micro-nutrient deficiencies common among women and children. Further, under Mission Poshan 2.0, only fortified rice is being allocated to States/UTs.