Sarkari yojanas or government schemes are initiated by the government of India to provide benefits and services to the citizens of the country. These schemes are aimed at addressing the various issues and challenges faced by the citizens and improving their overall well-being. In this context, some of the most useful sarkari yojanas are:
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: This scheme aims to provide financial inclusion by opening bank accounts for all citizens of India and providing them with a RuPay debit card. This scheme has helped in increasing the number of bank accounts and financial inclusion in the country. It has also helped in providing access to banking services to the previously unbanked population, thereby improving their overall financial situation.
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: This scheme aims to provide affordable housing to the economically weaker sections and low-income groups. This scheme has helped in addressing the housing shortage in the country and has provided a roof over the head for many families. The scheme has also helped in improving the living conditions of the beneficiaries and has provided them with a sense of security and dignity.
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: This scheme aims to provide LPG connections to households below the poverty line, to reduce the health hazards caused by the use of traditional fuels. This scheme has helped in improving the health and well-being of many families by providing them with clean cooking fuel. It has also helped in reducing indoor air pollution and has prevented various respiratory illnesses caused by the use of traditional fuels.
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: This scheme aims to provide crop insurance to farmers, to protect them against crop loss due to natural calamities. This scheme has helped in providing financial security to farmers and has reduced the impact of crop loss on their livelihoods. It has also helped in reducing the burden of debt on farmers and has provided them with a sense of security.
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is a government-funded health insurance scheme launched in 2018. The scheme aims to provide health coverage to poor and economically weaker sections of the population by providing them with financial protection against health shocks. The scheme provides coverage up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization.
The scheme targets poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers’ families, 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas and includes the following categories of people:- Rural landless households
- Urban workers’ households
- Beneficiaries of the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC)
- Building and other construction workers’ families
- Beedi workers’ families
- Mine workers’ families
- Auto and taxi drivers, rickshaw pullers, vendors, and others
- Street vendors, urban street vendors, and others
- Self-employed persons and their family
- Beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA)
- The scheme covers pre- and post-hospitalization expenses, as well as the cost of medicines, diagnostic tests, and hospitalization expenses. The scheme also covers the cost of transportation to the hospital, and the cost of an accompanying person, if required. PMJAY also covers the cost of certain specific treatments such as organ transplants, cancer, and other serious illnesses.
- PMJAY is implemented through a network of empanelled hospitals, which are responsible for providing the necessary medical treatment to the beneficiaries. The scheme also includes a provision for cashless treatment, which means that the beneficiaries do not have to pay any money at the time of treatment. The scheme also includes a provision for the portability of the benefits, which means that the beneficiaries can avail the benefits of the scheme even if they change their place of residence.
- PMJAY is considered to be one of the most important schemes launched by the government as it aims to provide health coverage to the poor and economically weaker sections of the population. It helps in providing financial protection against health shocks, which can be a significant burden on the poor and weaker sections of the society. It also helps in reducing the out-of-pocket expenditure on health care, which can be a significant burden on the poor and weaker sections of the society. The scheme is expected to improve the overall health and well-being of the beneficiaries and reduce the burden of healthcare costs on the poor and weaker sections of the society.
- Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM): It is a pension scheme for the unorganized sector workers in India, launched in 2019 by the Government of India. The scheme aims to provide a pension of Rs. 3,000 per month to workers in the unorganized sector after the age of 60 years. The scheme is open to all citizens of India between 18 and 40 years of age, who are working in the unorganized sector.
Under the scheme, the worker will have to contribute a small amount every month to the pension fund, and the government will also contribute an equal amount to the pension fund. The worker can start receiving the pension after reaching the age of 60 years. The scheme also includes a provision for the continuation of the pension to the spouse after the death of the worker.
PM-SYM is implemented through a network of Common Service Centers (CSCs), which are responsible for enrolling the workers under the scheme and for the collection of the contribution. The scheme also includes a provision for the portability of the benefits, which means that the worker can continue to receive the benefits of the scheme even if he changes his place of residence or job.
The scheme is considered to be important for providing financial security to the unorganized sector workers during their old age. The scheme is expected to benefit around 42 crore workers in the unorganized sector, including small farmers, street vendors, construction workers, and other informal sector workers. It will provide them with a regular income during their old age and help them to lead a dignified life.