New India Literacy Programme (NILP)
29-Mar-2023: New India Literacy Programme launched to cover a target of 5.00 crore non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above
Government has launched a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, “New India Literacy Programme” (NILP) for implementation during five years from the FYs 2022-23 to 2026-27 with financial outlay of Rs.1037.90 crore out of which Rs.700.00 crore is Central share and Rs.337.90 crore is State share. The scheme aims to cover a target of 5.00 crore non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above. The Scheme has five components: (i) Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, (ii) Critical Life Skills, (iii) Vocational Skills Development, (iv) Basic Education and (v) Continuing Education.
The beneficiaries under the scheme are identified through door to door survey on Mobile App by the surveyors in the States/UTs. The non-literate can also avail the benefit of the scheme through direct registration from any place through mobile app. The scheme is mainly based on volunteerism for teaching and learning. Volunteers can also register through mobile app for this purpose.
The scheme is based on technology and implemented predominantly through online mode. The teaching learning material and resources have been made available on DIKSHA platform of NCERT and can be accessed through the mobile-apps. Further, other modes like TV, Radio, Samajik Chetna Kendra etc. are also to be used for dissemination of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy. All the non-literate above 15 years of age can avail the benefits of the scheme.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link (USBRL) Project
29-Mar-2023: 161 km out of 272 km length of USBRL project commissioned
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link (USBRL) project (272 km) was sanctioned in 1994-95. Anticipated cost of the project is Rs 37,012 crore, against which, expenditure of Rs 26,786 crore has been incurred up to March, 2022 on the project. Out of the total 272 km length of USBRL project, length of 161 Km has already been commissioned. Work on balance stretch of Katra-Banihal section of 111 Km has been taken up.
The completion of any Railway project(s) depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of forest department, deposition of cost by State Government in Cost sharing projects, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project(s) site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic considerations etc. All these factors affect the completion time of the project(s).
At present, 19 (nineteen) Passenger Special train services are running in Baramulla-Badgam-Banihal section of USBRL Project. Moreover, introduction of new train services or extension of existing train services is an ongoing process over Indian Railways subject to traffic demand, operational feasibility and availability of rolling stock.
New Line Projects are considered on the basis of demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Member of Parliament, other public representatives and Railways’ own requirements. As receipt of such proposals is a continuous and ongoing process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. The proposals are taken up on the basis of remuneration, last mile connectivity, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, socio-economic considerations, missing links and alternate routes including connectivity to tourist destinations etc., depending upon liabilities of ongoing projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands which is a continuous and ongoing process.
Amrit Bharat Station scheme
29-Mar-2023: 1275 railway stations have been identified under Amrit Bharat Station scheme
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has recently been launched for development of Railway stations on Indian Railways. This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach.
Involves preparation of Master Plans and their implementation in phases to improve the amenities at the stations like improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like ‘One Station One Product’, better passenger information systems, executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station.
The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballast less tracks, ‘Roof Plazas’ as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centres at the station in the long term.
Presently, 1275 railway stations have been identified for development under this scheme including 55 in the State of Karnataka, 87 in the State of Gujarat, 123 in the State of Maharashtra, 82 in the State of Rajasthan, 49 in the State of Assam, 4 in the State of Tripura and 1 each in the State of Arunachal Pradesh Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim.
Budgetary funds are being used for developing stations under ‘Amrit Bharat Station scheme’. However, a miniscule number of stations are also being explored for development under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in the State of Madhya Pradesh has been commissioned through PPP model.
Development/redevelopment of Railway Stations is complex in nature involving safety of passengers and trains and requires various statutory clearances from urban/local bodies etc. and these factors affect the completion time. Therefore, no time frame can be indicated.