Results of the 2019 election were not a very shocking one. It was for the first time in so many years that a party won for two consecutive years with a full majority. There were enormous path-breaking decisions which were taken in the last tenure by the BJP government. Soon after taking charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed his first cabinet meeting with Union Ministers and announced a number of new schemes with the special mention of the benefits given to the farmers and industrial traders.
Modi 2.0 Government: New Policies Announced
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Scheme
In the first cabinet meeting of BJP held on 31st June, it was decided that all farmers, irrespective of their land holdings, will be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Scheme and an amount of Rs. 6000 will be transferred in the bank accounts of each farmer. This scheme contemplates covering around 2 crores additional farmers who have an estimated expenditure of Rs. 87.217.50 crore in 2019-2020 — exceeding the amount from the earlier version of the scheme which was Rs. 75,000 crore.
The pension would be provided to a large number of farmers and the Centre has decided to spend Rs. 10,774.5 crore for a period of three years for this purpose.
Pension Scheme for Traders
Another decision taken by the Modi govt. was to provide a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 to all the shopkeepers, self-employed persons and the retail traders once they attain the age of 60 years.
This will benefit around 3 crore retail traders and shopkeepers. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar presented an assumption that around 5 crore traders will join the aforesaid scheme in the upcoming three years. All the shopkeepers, self-employed persons and retail traders who are aged between 18-40 years with GST turnover below Rs. 1.5 crore are eligible to enroll under this scheme.
Scheme to control diseases among livestock
A total outlay of Rs. 13,343 crores have been approved by the Cabinet for an aspiring scheme which aims to control the increasing diseases amongst the livestock in India for the next five years.
Under this scheme, the Centre and the State governments contribute the funds in the ratio of 60:40. However, in special circumstances, the Central government will bear the entire cost. This scheme covers the vaccination of around 30 crore bovines (cows, bulls, and buffaloes) and 20 crore sheep/goat and 10 million pigs.
Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme
One of the major path-breaking decisions taken by the Modi 2.0 government is to increase the amount to be paid as a Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund.
The amount of scholarship for boys under this scheme was Rs. 2,000 per month which has now increased to Rs. 2,500 per month. For girls, it was Rs. 2,250 per month which has now increased to Rs 3,000 per month.
Earlier the ambit of the scholarship was limited to the soldiers/ army officers but now it has been extended to the children of the State Police personnel also who were martyred during a terror/Naxalite attack.
The limitation or quota for this new Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme for the wards of the State Police will be 500 in a year.