Results of 2014 General Elections were significant in two important ways; firstly, a new party i.e. Bhartiye Janta Party (BJP) under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi came into power and secondly, after 30 years, a single party got majority in the Lok Sabha-BJP secured more than 280 Lok Sabha on its own. On 26 May 2014, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his cabinet took oath and the new Government came into existence. To fulfill its vision and for the welfare and development of the country, acting on its motto: “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”, the new Government decided to launch several new programme and schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhanmantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Abhiyan etc. Only recently i.e. on 26 May 2015, the new Government completed its first year in the office; let’s have an overview of differePradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched as a National Mission for Financial Inclusion. Its theme is: “Mera Khata, Bhagya Vidhata”. The objective of the scheme is to ensure access to various financial services like availability of basic savings bank account to everyone in the country, accessibility of government credit facilities to needy, facility of remittance, benefits of insurance and pension to the weaker sections of the society. The Yojana was first announced by PM Narendra Modi on 15 August 2014 in his speech from Lal Kila; however, it was formally launched by Mr Modi on 28 August 2014 in New Delhi. The PMJDY is to be implemented in two stages:nt schemes launched in past one year With the object of universalization of banking services, it has been provided that every account holder will be provided with zero-balance Savings Bank Account with RuPay debit card. Along with the account, an accidental insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh will be provided which is to be given by ‘HDFC Ergo’. Those who open accounts between 28 August 2014 and January 26, 2015 they will be given life insurance cover of Rs. 30,000 (given by LIC). After satisfactorily working of accounts for six months, holders can avail Rs. 5,000 overdrafts from the bank. Account holders will get Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of various Governmental schemes. There will be provision of issuing of Kisaan Credit Card in the form of Ru Pay Kisaan Credit card. Benefits to be provided in second phase: Providing micro-insurance to account holders. Provision of pension schemes such as Swavlamban. The PMJDY is being monitored on mission mode under the supervision of Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley. The Yajana is a very ambitious project of the Government and the same is implemented with great zeal. Thus, the PMJDY is a much needed step in right direction in order to give financial security and confidence to all section of society including the poorest of poor through zero-balance account, insurance cover, overdraft facility and Ru Pay Debit card etc.; financial inclusion is necessary so that the benefits of Government services and programme should reach to everyone without fail. The Yojana also tries to fulfill the Constitutional promise of providing socio-economic justice and equality. PRADHAN MANTRI BETI BACHAO, BETI PADHAO YOJANA This programme was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 22 January 2015 in Panipat, Haryana. It is a very significant programme and campaign because of country’s poor record on women related indicators such as child sex ratio, female infanticide, female foeticide and female education etc; especially alarming is the data for child sex ratio i.e. the sex ratio of children 0 to 6 years. The census data of the year 2011 shows child sex ratio at 918 which is lesser than the previous census (2001) data of 927. Thus, child sex ratio (0-6 years) is showing a declining trend which is not a very healthy sign for social development of India. Therefore, ‘Beti Bacha Beti Padhao’ campaign is one of the most important programmes being initiated by the new Government. The main features of the programme are as follows: This initiative is a joint venture of three ministries of the central government, viz. Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development. According to the Government, the campaign has three main objectives: Prevention of gender based sex selective elimination. Ensuring survival and protection of girl child. Ensuring education and participation of the girl child. The long term objective of the programme is to build an environment of gender equality in the country through creation of employment opportunities, safety and security, mobility and speedy justice for women. This scheme or programme will be first implemented in 100 chosen districts of the country which are gender critical i.e. where child sex ratio is at alarming point. There are eight monitorable targets for the programme which are as follows: To improve sex ratio at birth by 10 points in a year in the chosen 100 districts. In case of Under Five Child Mortality, reduction in gender differentials from 8 points in 2011 to 4 points in 2017. To improve the nutrition level of girls by reducing the numbers of underweight and anemic girls below 5 years of age. By utilizing ICDS NRHM Mother Child Protection Cards, ensuring universalization of ICDS; attendance and equal care of girls. To increase the enrollment of girls in secondary education from 76% in 2013-14 to 79% in 2017. To ensure and promote a protective environment for girls through stricter implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act 2012. To ensure toilet for girls in every school by the year 2017. To train Elected Representatives/ Grassroot Functionaries as community champions to mobilize communities to improve child sex ration and promote girls’ education. The Government has appointed cine actress Madhuri Dixit as brand ambassador of the campaign. PM Narendra Modi, in his speech, has asked the people of the country to follow several practices such as rejoicing the birth of a girl child; celebrating National Girls Child Day; and to shed away the archaic idea of considering a girl child as ‘Paraya Dhan’ etc. ATAL PENSION YOJANA Financial security in the old age is one of the main concerns of everyone. Though there are various pension schemes both in public and private sphere for employees of organized sectors but as far as unorganized sector of the work force is concerned there are no such universal schemes. Work force employed in unorganized sector consists of 88% of the total labour force of the country as per 66th Survey Report of NSSO of 2011-12. Thus it’s a major portion of total labour force of around 48 crore of India and being in unorganized sector, this section of society is largely poor without having any social or financial security; therefore, it was all the more necessary to provide them with an opportunity to save for their retirement and give them a sense of social as well as financial security in their old age. Thus to universalize the pension scheme for citizens of India, the Government of India has launched a new pension scheme focusing specially on unorganized sector work force. This new scheme has been named after our ex-PM Shri Atal Bihari Bajpai as: “Atal Pension Yojana”. Main features of APY are as follows: It will be focused on unorganized sector work force who would join the National Pension Scheme (NPS) which is being administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) of India. The APY will substitute the earlier Government’s Swavalamban Yojana for the same purpose; the subscribers of Swavalamban would be automatically migrated to the APY. Subscribers to the APY will get guaranteed monthly pension of Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 after the age of 60 years depending upon their contributions. The minimum and maximum age of joining the scheme is 18 and 40 years respectively. The Government will co-contribute for 5 years from 2015-16 to 2019-20 50% of the subscriber’s contribution or Rs 1000 per annum whichever is lower for those subscribers who join the scheme before 31st December, 2015 and who are also not already covered by any other Statutory Social Security Schemes and are not income tax payers. One subscriber can open only one APY account which will be unique. For more details, the Government of India website: www.jeevansuraksha.gov.in may be visited by interested people. The scheme has come into effect on 1 June, 2015. Thus, the Atal Pension Yojana is one of most needed schemes for the poor and insecure work force of unorganized sector so that they can also be included and integrated in the socio-economic development of the country. It is a government of India initiative; it’s an insurance scheme for accidental death and disability. The scheme has been envisaged to provide citizens of the country accidental insurance on nominal annual premium. Its main objective is to bring in its fold even the poorest of poor under the cover of accidental insurance and to give them a sense of social security. Main features of the scheme are as follows: The scheme would be administered through Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGICs) and other General Insurance Companies with required tie ups and approvals with Banks for the purpose. The scheme is a renewable scheme, from year to year basis; however, the subscriber would have an option of opting it for longer term