Contents
- SPIC MACAY’s International Convention
- CHAMPIONS Technology Platform to Empower MSMEs
- Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) campaign
- Agroecology and Natural Farming: Inclusive Economic Growth
SPIC MACAY’S INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture, Prelims
Why in news?
Prime Minister addressed the Spic Macay’s International Convention via video conference.
New elements in the Spic Macay convention this year like nature walk, heritage walk, literature and holistic food along with Yoga and Naad Yoga were appreciated.
SPIC MACAY
- The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) is a voluntary, Non-profit, Non-political youth movement. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
- It promotes intangible aspects of Indian cultural heritage by promoting Indian classical music, classical dance, folk music, yoga, meditation, crafts and other aspects of Indian culture.
- SPICMACAY’s intention is to enrich the quality of formal education by increasing awareness about different aspects of Indian heritage and inspiring the young mind to imbibe the values embedded in it.
- It is a movement with chapters in over 300 towns all over the world.
- SPIC MACAY was established by Dr. Kiran Seth in 1977 at IIT Delhi.
- Dr Kiran Seth was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ for his contribution to the arts in 2009.
CHAMPIONS TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM TO EMPOWER MSMEs
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy
Why in news?
Indian Prime Minister Launched the technology platform CHAMPIONS which stands for Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength.
About CHAMPIONS
- The portal is basically for making the smaller units big by solving their grievances, encouraging, supporting, helping and handholding.
- It is an ICT based system is set up to help the MSMEs in present difficult situation and to handhold them to become national and international champions. This makes it a real one-stop-shop solution of MSME Ministry.
- It is a technology packed control room-cum-management information system.
- It is also fully integrated on real time basis with GOI’s main grievances portal CPGRAMS and MSME Ministry’s own other web-based mechanisms.
Detailed objectives of CHAMPIONS:
- Grievance Redressal: To resolve the problems of MSMEs including those of finance, raw materials, labour, regulatory permissions etc particularly in the Covid created difficult situation;
- To help them capture new opportunities: including manufacturing of medical equipments and accessories like PPEs, masks, etc and supply them in National and International markets;
- To identify and encourage the sparks: i.e. the potential MSMEs which can withstand the current situation and can become national and international champions.
KISAN CREDIT CARDS (KCC) CAMPAIGN
Focus: GS-III Agriculture
Why in news?
Under a special drive, the Government will provide Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to 1.5 crore dairy farmers belonging to Milk Unions and Milk producing Companies by 31st July.
The Need and Details
- The special drive to provide KCC to 1.5 crore dairy farmers is part of the Prime Minister’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat package for Farmers.
- As dairy is among the fastest growing sectors of the economy with a CAGR of above 6% in the last 5 years, providing short term credit to dairy farmers for meeting their requirements for working capital, marketing etc. will boost their productivity tremendously.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
- The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme is a credit scheme introduced in August 1998 by Indian banks.
- This model scheme was prepared by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on the recommendations of R. V. Gupta committee to provide term loans for agricultural needs.
- Its objective is to meet the comprehensive credit requirements of the agriculture sector and by 2019 for fisheries and animal husbandry by giving financial support to farmers.
- Participating institutions include all commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks, and state co-operative banks.
Provision of the KCC Scheme
- KCC covers post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loan, consumption requirements of farmer household, working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture, investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities.
- The scheme comes with an ATM-enabled RuPay debit card with facilities for one-time documentation, built-in cost escalation in the limit, and any number of withdrawals within the limit.
- The scheme has short term credit limits for crops, and term loans.
- Individuals involved in farming and agricultural activities can apply for the KCC. Farmers who cultivate on the land of other people are also eligible to apply for the Card.
- Farmers get the loan of up to Rs 3 Lakh at reduced Interest Rate of 7%. If a farmer manages to repay the loan amount on due date then another 3% rebate can be availed, making the effective Interest Rate as just 4%.
- Farmers can use the KCC card for purchasing seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, for doing payment to labourers, for withdrawal of cash and for purchasing agriculture related products and equipment.
- KCC credit holders are covered under personal accident insurance up to ₹50,000 for death and permanent disability, and up to ₹25,000 for other risk.
AGROECOLOGY AND NATURAL FARMING: INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH
Focus: GS-II Social Justice, GS-III Agriculture, Prelims
Why in news?
International experts in a convention organized on 29 May by NITI Aayog endorsed efforts to significantly boost agroecological and natural farming approaches in India.
Highlights
- The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana was launched in 2015 to promote organic farming among small and marginal farmers and in the last four years covered 7 lakh hectares and 8 lakh farmers.
- India’s pioneering leadership in the arena of agroecology was acknowledged by the experts.
- Conclusive evidences shared suggested that natural farming and other agroecological approaches, such as organic agriculture, have great promise for a renaissance of Indian agriculture, so that farming is not just productive but truly regenerative and sustainable.
What is Agroecology?
- Agroecology is the study of ecological processes applied to agricultural production systems.
- In simple terms it is the science of applying ecology to agriculture for sustainable outcomes that are more resilient to climate shocks such as droughts or flooding and pest attacks but are still productive and support farmer’s livelihoods.
- The field of agroecology is not associated with any one method of farming, whether it be organic, integrated, or conventional, intensive or extensive, although some use the name specifically for alternative agriculture.
- Bringing ecological principles to bear can suggest new management approaches in agroecosystems.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
- “Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana” is an elaborated component of Soil Health Management (SHM) of major project National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
- Under PKVY (Not to be confused with Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana PMKVY) Organic farming is promoted through adoption of organic village by cluster approach and PGS certification.
The Scheme envisages:
- Promotion of commercial organic production through certified organic farming.
- Produce will be pesticide residue free and will contribute to improve the health of consumer.
- It will raise farmer’s income and create potential market for traders.
- It will motivate the farmers for natural resource mobilization for input production.
