“The future of India lies in its villages“ – Mahatma Gandhi
Our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has stuck by Gandhi Ji’s philosophy in most areas including rural India, his constantly voicing support for rural development was brought to life through schemes that the government has introduced and implemented under his reign.
Schemes like “Digital India” and “Make in India” have grabbed headlines for their objectives and initiatives implemented under them. While “Digital India” has opened the gates of Common Service Centers (CSC) in villages,” Make in India” has encouraged FDCI to dedicate their work towards rural artisans and textiles. “Digital India” also brought along “E-basta” which has aided the introduction of virtual education in villages. Other than this, schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana have assisted in providing proper homes to the rural poor.
However, there are schemes lesser known to the public but crafted with the needs of the rural citizens in mind. Modi has made efforts to provide a 360 degree solution through these schemes by covering agriculture, education, infrastructure etc.
Here is a comprehensive list of such schemes:-
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
A massive budget was allocated with the objective to achieve 100 percent electrification of villages by the May of 2018, as per reports 5,500 villages had been covered under the scheme as on February 2016.
Soil Health Card Scheme
In order to promote sensible use of fertilizers, 14 crore cards are planned to be distributed among farmers across the country. It contains information about the crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilizers required in individual’s farms so that lack of awareness does not cost the farmer.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
This scheme is best known for creating a Guinness World Records of maximum bank accounts opened in a short duration of a week in August 2014. However, in rural areas it led to the entry of numerous people into the banking system.
Krishi Sinchai Yojana
Approximately 28.5 lakh land is sought to be brought under irrigation with this scheme, an investment of Rs.17, 000 crore was allocated for the same.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
An interest rate of 8.6 percent was offered on saving accounts opened under this scheme to encourage women education. The bigger picture here was eradication of the burden that conventionally a father felt in India when a girl child is born and discourage female feticide in rural as well as less developed areas.
Sansaad Adarsh Gram Yojana
The scheme was launched to enforce every MP to donate a part of their funds in order to create one or more model villages in their constituencies. The same is done in order to provide backing to the process of social, cultural and infrastructural development of rural India.
These schemes sum up Modi’s rural affair perfectly, in the two years that he has held the position, he has kept his promise to empower rural India and contribute to its development.
Modi is reliving the teachings of the Father of The White Revolution- Mr. Verghese Kurein
“India’s place in the sun would come from the partnership between wisdom of its rural people and skill of its professionals.”
