Swavalamban Co-contributory Pension Scheme

The Union Budget, 2010-2011, announced “Swavalamban,” a new initiative, to encourage people from the unorganised sector to save for their retirement voluntarily. This is to be administered by the Interim Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). It is expected that about 10 lakh NPS subscribers of the unorganised sector would benefit from the scheme..

Eligibility

·                       Family members of SHG members and people from the unorganised sector.

·                       The member should be in the age group of 18 -50 years.

Premium

Non members who wish to join and those who are not a part of any statutory pension scheme of the Government shall contribute between Rs. 1000 and Rs. 12000/- per annum, and the Central Government shall contribute Rs. 1000 per annum to such subscribers. This contribution by the Central Government shall be available for the current financial year and three years thereafter.

Benefits

The contributions of the subscribers under Swavalamban would be collected by agencies, such as, Government agencies or NGOs, in flexible instalments on monthly or quarterly basis. The contributions of subscribers would be invested in the financial instruments and the returns and the contributions would be used to build the pension corpus of the subscribers. The subscriber could be eligible to get pension from a life insurance company at age 60 by using 40% of the pension corpus. However, if the amount of pension corpus is not sufficient to get a minimum amount of pension of Rs. 1000 per month, then the percentage of pension corpus would be increased so that the pension amount becomes Rs. 1,000 per month, failing which the entire pension corpus would be used to get pension

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Cattle Insurance

Livestock is the primary livelihood activity as well as asset for resource poor households in rural AP. In addition to that, more than 40 percent of rural credit flow is towards supporting the livestock sector and hence managing the risks within the sector is very critical. Moreover, a substantial amount of the loans transacted among the SHG members are for the purpose of purchase of Milch animals. The untimely loss due to death of an animal, which they consider as a source of income, is rendering the SHG women helpless with regard to loan repayments. The livestock insurance leverages on the capacities built in the community to manage insurance schemes as in the case of insurance against death and disability.

Objective

As the livestock insurance is protecting the loans of the poor, it would make the community to stretch the ability of the poor for enhanced asset-creation for continuous livelihoods through livestock insurance.

Eligibility

All the cattle of the SHG women, which have at least once been pregnant.

Benefits

·                       Premium at Rs 4.5 per 100 of the cost of the animal for 3 years ( If Transit Insurance required an additional premium of Rs 0.1 per 100)

·                       United India Insurance Company agreed to adopt the simple claim settlement process by allowing Zilla Samakhya to settle the claim 1st and then to refer the claim to United India Insurance for reimbursement of the same within 7 days.

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Loan Insurance for SHG women

The Self Help Groups in the State of Andhra Pradesh have created a history by covering about 95% of the rural BPL households. They have transformed themselves as a strong self managed front line Community Based Development-Oriented Financial Institutions. The key functions of those CBOs are social and financial intermediation on one hand and community development on the other hand with an emphasis on sustainable livelihoods. Over a period of 4 years an amount of Rs. 12000 Crores has been given as under the SHG Bank Linkage Program with ‘Pavalavaddi’.

In the light of bank linkage program with ‘Pavalavaddi’ huge amount of money is transacted by the SHG members in the name of total financial inclusion covering even the swapping of old debts. AP leads in SHG Bank Linkage Program with 35% of all bank loans given to SHGs in India. The bankers of AP comfortable and are testifying that the recovery rate is 99%. In this back drop, as a natural evolution of their financial inclusion, SHG women evinced interest in insuring the loans taken by the members from the Commercial Banks or from their own federations as a safety net against financial risks in the event of natural and accidental mishaps, to protect their children or family members from debt traps.

Objective

·                       To protect the family members of an SHG member for financial risks, in the event of her death

·                       To safeguard the institution of SHG from repayment burden, when a borrowing members dies

·                       To ensure the perpetuity of the SHG, providing loan insurance to all the borrowing members

·                       To ensure 100% repayment at all levels even in the turbulence time and to increase the size of loans to SHG members, by creating a confidence among the Bankers.

Conditions and premium

·                       All SHG women taken SHG Bank linkage

·                       Age between 18 to 69 years

·                       Premium @ Rs. 4/- per every Rs. 1000/- Sum Assured amount

Benefits

In the event of unfortunate event resulting in death of the member, the claim amount will be used to repay her outstanding and also payoff her loan installments paid till that day.

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Jana Sree Bima Yojana

Eligibiliy

All the SHG women who are covered under Abhaya Hastham are eligible in this scheme.

Premium:

·                       Total premium is Rs.150/- of which Rs.75/- is paid by GOI and the remaining Rs.75 is deducted by LIC from the contribution made under Abhaya Hastham scheme.

·                       Each member shall pay Rs.15/- towards service charges to respective Zilla samakhyas in addition to the premium mentioned above.

Benefits

·                       For natural death Rs.30,000/-

·                       For Accidental death Rs75000/-

·                       For permanent total disability Rs.75,000/-

·                       For permanent partial disability Rs.37,500/-

·                       Under Shiksha Sahayog Yojana, a student study scholarship benefit of Rs.100 per month is provided for the children of the JBY members, studying between 9th and 12th standard including ITI.

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Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana

Objective and purpose

‘Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana’(AABY), Government of India’s Group Insurance scheme implementing in the state of Andhra Pradesh through Department of rural development for the benefit of 38.00 lakh rural landless agricultural laborers from 31st March, 2008 and 17.67 lakhs members are covered with the funds from MGNREGS upto 31.03.2013. Thus a total of 56.67 lakh members are covered under the scheme in the year 2012-13

Premium:

Under this group insurance scheme, for a premium of Rs.320 per member, is shared by the Government of India and the State Government on 50:50 basis. LIC of India has enhanced the premium from Rs. 200 to Rs. 320 per member from 1st April, 2010 due to high and adverse claim ratio reported for the year 2008-09 and 2009-10 in the State under the scheme.

Benefits

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) provides insurance cover of Rs.30,000 for natural death, Rs.75,000 for accidental death, Rs. 37500/- for permanent partial disability and Rs. 75000/- for permanent total disability due to accident. A free add-on scholarship benefit for the children of the members of AABY is provided under the scheme. A scholarship at the rate of Rs. 100/- per month will be given to maximum two children studying between 9th to I2th Standard. This scholarship, however, is payable half yearly - on 1st July and on Ist January, each year.

All the enrolled members details digitized and developed web based monitoring system for providing quick and quality services to the enrolled members in a transparent effective manner.

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Dr. Y.S.R. Abhaya Hastham

The Scheme has commenced from 1st November 2009. It was launched by the then Hon’ble Chief Minster at a state level function held at Chevella, Rangareddy district on 1st November 2009.

The “Andhra Pradesh Self Help Groups (SHG) Women Co-contributory Pension Act, 2009” has been passed by both houses of the legislature.

Objective and purpose

The pension scheme envisages providing income security to the SHG women who are 60 years and above. It envisages that a member would contribute Re.1/- per day per member and Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) would also contribute Re.1/- per day per contributing member and GoAP would ensure a minimum pension of Rs.500/- per month to every SHG member aged above 60 years.

In addition to the pensions to the women, the members are covered under Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) insurance scheme, giving them triple benefits of Pensions, Insurance cover and Study Scholarship under Shiksha Sahyog Yojana.

Eligibility

·                       All Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) recognized SHG women, from rural and urban areas.

·                       Should be a currently active SHG member and been a member for atleast a year (SHG member by 1/06/2009) subsequently the age has been limited to the member not crossing 50 years.

·                       Holder of white ration card.

·                       The SHG should recommend the case of the member and certify the age of the member through a resolution

Benefits

1.                     Each member would become eligible for minimum monthly pension of Rs. 500 or above, subject to fulfillment of conditions to be prescribed, on crossing the 60 years of age, depending on the number of years of contribution and quantum of contribution made by the member.

2.                     All women between 18 to 59 years would be eligible for life insurance cover up to

1.                                  A sum of Rs. 30,000 in case of natural death

2.                                  Rs. 75,000 in case of Accidental death

3.                                  Rs. 75,000 for permanent disability

4.                                  Rs. 37,500 for partial disability

5.                                  Scholarship of Rs. 1200 per annum for their children, studying 9th, 10th classes, intermediate and Industrial Technical Institute (ITI).

6.                                  Members who are already receiving scholarships for their kids from LIC under any other scheme would not be eligible for receiving this scholarship.

3.                     On death of the subscriber during the contributory phase (less than 60 years), the available contributions of the subscriber and the government’s co-contribution along with accrued earnings on such contributions shall be transferred to the nominee of the subscriber. And also the insurance benefit would be transferred to the nominee.

4.                     On death of the member during the pension payout phase (60+ years), the available contributions of the subscriber and the government’s co-contribution along with accrued earnings shall be transferred to the nominee of the subscriber.

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Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme (RGNF) ST students

This Scheme was introduced in the year 2005-06. Under the Scheme, fellowship is provided to ST students for pursuing higher studies such as M.Phil. and Ph. D.  The maximum duration of a fellowship is 5 years.  Every year 667 fellowships are to be provided to ST students.  The scheme is presently  being implemented by University Grant Commission (UGC) on behalf of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.  Any ST student who has passed post-graduation from a UGC recognized University can apply under the scheme. 

Amount of Scholarship per student:-

S.N.	Item	Amount
1.	Fellowship in Science Humanities and Social Science	@ Rs.16000/- p.m. for initial two years (JRF)@Rs. 18000/- p.m. for remaining tenure (SRF)
2.	Fellowship in Engineering & Technology	@ Rs.18000/- p.m. for initial two years (JRF)@Rs. 19000/- p.m. for remaining tenure (SRF)
2	Contingency for Humanities and Social Sciences	@ Rs. 10000/- p.a. for initial two years@ Rs. 20500/- p.a. for remaining tenure.
3	Contingency for Sciences, Engineering & Technology	@ Rs. 12000/- p.a. for initial two years@ Rs. 25000/- p.a. for remaining tenure
4.	Departmental assistance (All Subjects)	@ Rs. 3000/- p.a. per student to the host institution for providing infrastructure.
5.	Escorts/Reader Assistance (All Subjects)	@ Rs. 2000/- p.m. in case of physically and visually handicapped candidates.
6.	House Rent Allowance (All Subjects)	As per rules of the UGC pattern.

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Scheme of Top Class Education for ST Students

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has introduced the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of Top Class Education for ST Students from the academic year 2007-08 with the objective of encouraging meritorious ST students for pursuing studies at degree and post degree level in identified Top Class Institutes.  There are 125 institutes identified under the scheme in both the Government and private sectors covering the field of management, medicine, engineering, law and commercial courses.  Each institute has been allocated five awards, with a ceiling of total 625 scholarships per year.  The family income of the ST students from all the sources shall not exceed Rs.4.50 lakh per annum.

The ST students will be awarded scholarship covering full tuition fee and other non-refundable dues in respect of Government/Government-funded institutions.  However, there will be a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakh per annum per student for private sector institutions and Rs. 3.72 lakh per annum per student for the private sector flying clubs for Commercial Pilot Training.  In addition to the above, the scholarship also provides for (i) living expenses @ Rs. 2200/- per month per student subject to actuals, (ii) books and stationery @ Rs. 3000/- per annum per student and (iii) cost of a latest computer system along with its accessories limited to Rs.45000/- as one time assistance during the course.

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Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Tribes Students

The Scheme provides financial assistance to meritorious students belonging to STs for pursuing higher studies abroad in specified fields of Master level courses, Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral research programmes, in the field of Engineering, Technology and Science.  The selected candidates are given cost of tuition and other educational fees charged by the foreign university etc., maintenance and other grants along with travel expenses.  In addition passage grants are also available to candidates belonging to ST who are in receipt of merit scholarship for postgraduate studies, research or training abroad (excluding attending seminars, workshops, conferences) from a foreign government/ organization or under any other scheme where cost of passage is not provided. Scheme of NOS has been revised in 2007-08 as a Plan scheme. 13 awards may be sanctioned to ST students and 2 to PVTG students per year.

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. Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST Students for studying in Classes IX & X

This Scheme has been introduced w.e.f 1.7.2012 with the following objectives:

(i)      To provide financial assistance to ST students for education in Classes IX and X so that the incidence of dropout, especially in transition from the elementary to secondary and during secondary stage of education, is minimized

(ii)      To improve enrolment of ST students in Classes IX and X so that they perform well and have a better chance of progressing to Post - Matric stages of education. 

Eligibility

Scheduled Tribe students enrolled full time in secondary education in Government schools/ school recognised by Government/ Central/State Board of Secondary Education, whose parents’ annual income does not exceed Rs. 2.00 lakh, are eligible for the scholarship.  

  Rates of Scholarship

#     Scholarship @ Rs.150/- per month for day scholars and @ Rs.350/- per month for hostellers, for a period of 10 months in a year.

#       Books and ad-hoc grant @ Rs. 750/- per year for day scholars and Rs. 1000/- per year for hostellers. 

#   Additional allowance for ST students with disabilities will be given to those students who are studying in private unaided recognised schools only, since these students are not covered under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Inclusive Education of the Disabled at Secondary Stage implemented by Ministry of HRD. 

Modalities for Implementation of the Schem

This is implemented through State Governments and UT Administrations which receive 100% Central assistance from Government of India for expenditure under the Scheme, over and above their Committed Liability.

 If a State Government/UT Administration is already giving pre-matric scholarship to ST students of classes IX-X, it will have to either continue to provide scholarship at that rate, over and above the Scholarship under the proposed Centrally Sponsored Scheme, or if it chooses to reduce its own expenditure on its Scheme, utilize the saving so effected, only on other educational programmes for Scheduled Tribes.

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Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribes Students

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to students belonging to Scheduled Tribes pursuing recognized Post-Matriculation courses in recognized institutions.  The scheme covers professional, technical as well as non-professional and non-technical courses at various levels and also includes correspondence courses including distance and continuing education.  The Scheme has now been revised w.e.f. 01-07-2010.  The revision included changes in (i) income ceiling; (ii) grouping of courses; and (iii) rates of maintenance and other allowances and (iv) additional Committed Liability arising on account of the revision of the Scheme w.e.f. 01.07.2010 shall be passed on to the States/UTs at the end of the XII Five Year Plan (w.e.f. 01.04.2017) and not at the end of the XI Plan.  The scheme is implemented by the State Government and UT Administrations, which receive 100% Central Assistance over and above the committed liability which is required to be borne by them from their own budgetary provisions.  The committed liability of each State is equal to the expenditure reached in the last year of the Plan period.  The requirement of committed liability of North Eastern States has been dispensed with from 1997-98.

                                                 The value of the existing scholarship includes compulsory non-refundable fees charges by the educational institutions, maintenance allowance, reader charges of blind students, study tour charges, thesis typing/printing charges, book allowance to students pursuing correspondence course and The maintenance allowance for Hostelers is between Rs. 380/- p.m. to Rs. 1200/- and for Day Scholars from Rs. 230/- p.m. to Rs. 500/- p.m., depending upon the level of courses.  The prescribed annual income ceiling of both the parents/guardians, under the scheme is up to Rs. 2,50,000/-, as applicable w.e.f. 01-04-2013. The income ceiling has been linked with the consumer price index for industrial workers.

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INCENTIVES TO INTER CASTE MARRIED COUPLES

Government have been encouraging inter-caste marriages for social integration and social reform with an objective of eradication of caste system in the society. Under this scheme Govt. have increased the incentive award for inter-caste married couples from Rs.10,000/- to 50,000/- vide G.O.Ms.No.33,SOCIAL WELFARE (PCR) DEPARTMENT  Dt: 12th May 2011, if either spouse belongs to Scheduled caste.

Eligibility

The incentive award under this scheme can be sanctioned either to the couple  where one of the spouses belongs to Scheduled Caste or where two spouses belong to two different sub castes among Scheduled Castes.

Sanction Procedure

The ASWO/DSWO has to verify the sanction proposal within 15 days from the date of receipt of the application. The Dy.Director (SW) of the district to which the SC spouse of the inter-caste married couple belongs, will sanction the incentive and issue a certificate of inter caste marriage.

For Apllication From click HERE

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DAIRY ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT SCHEME(SUBSIDY SCHEME)

Dairy and Poultry Venture capital fund launched in 2005-06 was segregated into Dairy and Poultry Venture Capital Funds during the year 2009-10. The mode of implementation of Dairy Venture Capital Fund is changed from interest free loan to capital subsidy and a revised scheme Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS) has come into effect from 1 September 2010.

Objectives:

To promote setting up of modern dairy farms for production of clean milk To encourage heifer calf rearing thereby conserve good breeding stock To bring structural changes in the unorganized sector so that initial processing of milk can be taken up at the village level itself. To bring about upgradation of quality and traditional technology to handle milk on a commercial scale To generate self employment and provide infrastructure mainly for unorganized sector. SUBSIDY: 33% for SCs/STs. 25% for others. Activities covered and indicative unit costs: Small dairy farms - Cross bred cows, Indigenous descript breeds and Graded buffaloes (upto 10 animals) - Rs.5 lakh Vermicompost (with milch animals unit) - Rs 20,000/- Heifer calf rearing - upto 20 calves - Rs 4.80 lakh Purchase of milking machines / milko testers / bulk milk coolers (upto 2000 lr. capacity) - Rs.18 lakh Indigenous milk products manufacturing units - upto Rs.12 lakh. Dairy product transport facilities and cold chain - Rs.24 lakh. Cold storage for milk/milk products - Rs.30 lakh. Private veterinary clinic - Rs.2.4 lakh - Mobile Units, Rs.1.80 lakh - Stationary Units Dairy parlour - Rs 56,000/- HOW TO AVAIL:- Contact nearest Banks(or) NABARD (or) Animal Husbandry Department Officers ... FOR ANY OTHER DETAILS CONTACT VAARADHI HELPLINE:- 8790990359

STHREE NIDHI CREDIT CO OPERATIVE FEDERATION

Description: Sthreenidhi has been set up as an alternative to micro finance institutions offering loans to SHGs at nominal interest rates. Sthree Nidhi Credit Cooperative Federation is promoted by Mandal Mahila Samakhyas and Federations of Self Help Groups (SHGs) at Mandal level, in association with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Sthree Nidhi’ is specifically created to meet needs of women • To supplement credit to SHG members while ensuring that SHGs give first priority for availing of loans from banking sector and then only look at the option to avail from ‘Sthree Nidhi.

Beneficiaries: women

                      Community.

Benefit Type: Loan and Interest Subsidy.

Eligibility Criteria: must be a member in self-help group.

How to Avail: eligible women of Self help Groups should approach the Community Coordinator  of Indhira Kranthi Patham ,Andhra Pradesh.

Reference URL:https://www.sthreenidhi.ap.gov.in/SNBank/UI/Home.aspx

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Polambadi programme (Farmers Field School)

Description:

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has launched a programme namely POLAM BADI (Farmers Field School) in which emphasis has been given for use of eco-friendly measures(bio-agents and bio-pesticides ) for control of crop pests which in turn reduce cost of cultivation and improve the quality of produce, resulting high market price and good returns. It also leads to less hazards to the living entity by not disturbing natural ecosystem. It is programmed to take up training in the farmers fields on FFS model (Polam badi) in which farmers are being trained in observation, scanning and identification of insect pests, diseases & defenders and adoption of Integrated Crop Management techniques on important crops.

Beneficiaries:

individual

Benefit Type:

Subsidy

Eligibility Criteria:

Polam badi will be eligible for only one honorarium

How to Avail:

This scheme is available for the farmers who are selected for training programme.

Reference URL:

http://agri.ap.nic.in/polambadi1.htm

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Disabled Pension

Eligibility Criteria:

  

      i.        The proposed beneficiary shall be from BPL family.

ii.      He/she shall be a local resident of the district.

iii.    He/she are not covered under any other Pension Scheme.

iv.  Disabled persons having a minimum of 40% disability 

       and are above 18  years of age.

Sanctioning Authority

      Rural

The MPDO is the sanctioning authority for all pensions, in favour of eligible persons recommended by the Gram Sabha.  

      Urban

The Municipal Commissioner is the sanctioning authority in    respect of all pensions, in favour of eligible persons recommended by the Municipal Ward Sabha.

Pension Amount: 500/-

Widow Pension

Eligibility Criteria:

  

      i.        The proposed beneficiary shall be from BPL family.

ii.      He/she shall be a local resident of the district.

iii.    He/she are not covered under any other Pension Scheme.

iv.  Widows irrespective of age limit. 

Sanctioning Authority

      Rural

The MPDO is the sanctioning authority for all pensions, in favour of eligible persons recommended by the Gram Sabha.  

      Urban

The Municipal Commissioner is the sanctioning authority in    respect of all pensions, in favour of eligible persons recommended by the Municipal Ward Sabha.

Pension Amount: 200/-