Modi Govt's 9 Yrs: Decoding Centre's Major Schemes

On May 30, 2023, the BJP-led government at the centre will complete nine full years since earning a resounding victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. One of the major factors that have contributed to the BJP winning a significantly larger mandate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was the numerous initiatives the Narendra Modi-led BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government has undertaken over the years to uplift the underprivileged and marginalised sections of society, including farmers and women. As part of its ninth-anniversary celebrations, the ruling BJP has a number of events planned that will highlight how the Narendra Modi administration's welfare policies have improved the lives and standard of living of millions of Indians through a variety of direct and indirect benefits.

Stand Up India Scheme

The Indian government launched the Stand Up India initiative on April 5, 2016. The Scheme enables bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore to at least one borrower from a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and at least one woman per bank branch for the establishment of new businesses. This company could operate in the manufacturing, service, or trading industries. At least 2.5 lakh borrowers will benefit from the program, which is being conducted through all Scheduled Commercial Banks. The program is active, and Scheduled Commercial Banks all over the nation are disbursing loans under it.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana

The program started on April 8, 2015. A loan up to Rs 50,000 is provided under the Shishu sub-scheme, one between Rs 50,000 and Rs 5.0 lakhs under the Kishore sub-scheme, and one between Rs 5.0 lakhs and Rs 10.0 lakhs under the Tarun sub-scheme. Collateral is not needed to secure loans. These actions are intended to boost the self-assurance of young, educated, or skilled individuals who will now be able to aspire to start their own small enterprises and to enable existing small firms to grow their operations.

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

A flagship program of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG), was launched in May 2016. Its goal is to make clean cooking fuel, such as LPG, accessible to rural and underprivileged households that would otherwise use traditional cooking fuels like firewood, coal, cow-dung cakes, etc. Traditional cooking fuels have a negative effect on both the environment and the health of rural women. The program was introduced on May 1, 2016, by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

On May 9, 2015, the Prime Minister introduced APY. All holders of saving bank/post office savings accounts between the ages of 18 and 40 are eligible for APY, and the contributions vary depending on the pension amount selected. At the age of 60, subscribers would start receiving the guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000, or Rs 5,000. In accordance with APY, the subscriber would be eligible for the monthly pension, followed by his or her spouse, and after their passing, the subscriber's nominee would get the subscriber's pension corpus as it had been amassed at age 60.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: Caring for the Girl Child 
The Prime Minister introduced Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) on January 22, 2015, in Panipat, Haryana. On a life-cycle continuum, BBBP addresses the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women's empowerment. The Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health, and Family are working together on it.