Rural Development Ministry-Flipkart MoU to empower local businesses
Ministry of Rural Development of Government of India (MoRD) and Flipkart has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Important Points
- MoU between ministry & Flipkart will help in empowering local businesses and self-help groups (SHGs) by bringing them into the e-commerce fold.
- Partnership is in line with the DAY-NRLM’s objective of strengthening the capabilities of rural communities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
- Thus, it provides further momentum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
Flipkart Samarth Program
MoU is a part of the Flipkart Samarth program. It was signed with the aim of providing skilled & underserved communities of weavers, craftsmen, and artisans with national market access using the Flipkart marketplace. It will also provide them with dedicated support for knowledge and training. Flipkart Samarth programme seeks to break entry barriers for local communities by providing time-bound incubation & support with onboarding, marketing, business insights, cataloguing, account management, and warehousing. It will increase avenues for business and trade inclusion as well as help in creating & sustaining better livelihood opportunities.
DAY-NRLM program
NRLM is a poverty alleviation project, which is implemented by Ministry of Rural Development. This project focuses on promoting self-employment and organization of poor across rural India. It seeks to organize the poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and make them capable for self-employment.
Significance
Ministry of Rural Development had restructured the ‘Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) in 1999 and launched Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) in order to promote self-employment among rural poor. SGSY has now been remodelled to NRLM. NRLM was launched in 2011 with a budget outlay of $5.1 billion.
Background
Flipkart Samarth program was launched in the year 2019 as a sustainable and inclusive platform for empowering underserved domestic communities & businesses by providing them opportunities and livelihoods. It is currently supporting the livelihoods of more than 950000 artisans, weavers and craftsmen in India.
Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 amended
The Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey recently replied to question in Lok Sabha that the Government of India has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. This was done to protect the interests of the consumers in the country.
Amendments
- The unit sale price of the commodity should compulsorily be displayed on the package. This allows the consumers to make informed decision irrespective of quantity and size of the commodity packed in the package. Also, this will remove the inexactness in declaration of quantity in pre packed commodities.
- The number or pieces that represent the quantity in the package should be mentioned in the package. This will remove the confusion in items sold by number. Earlier such declarations were made as ‘N’ or ‘U’.
- The provisions of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) should be simplified. The illustration and mandatory declaration of MRP in Indian currency including taxes has been removed.
Metrology means science of measurement and its application.
Dam Safety Bill
The Dam Safety Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha. The bill aims to inspect, survey, maintain and operate dams in the country. Because mos t of the dams are more than 100 years old.
Important Points
- The bill constitutes two national bodies. They are National Committee on Dam Safety and National Dam Safety Authority.
- The National Committee on Dam Safety will evolve policies and recommend regulations related to dam safety.
- The National Dam Safety Authority implements the policies framed by the National committee. Also, it will provide technical assistance to the State Dam Safety Organisations.
- The bill will also constitute two state bodies. They are State Committee on Dam Safety and State Dam Safety Authority. The functions of these committees and authorities are restricted at state level and are similar to that of the national committees and authorities.
Constitutional provisions
- According to Entry 17 of State List, the states are eligible to make laws on irrigation, water supply, canals, embankments, drainage, water power and water storage.
- According to Entry 56 of the Union List, the Parliament is allowed to make laws on regulation of river valleys and inter state rivers.
- Article 252 allows the Parliament to make laws on subjects in State list if two or more states pass resolution requiring a law. In this issue, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have passed resolution asking for a law on dam safety.
Functions
The functions of National Dam Safety Authority and National Committee on Dam Safety are as follows;
- To resolve issues between State Dam Safety Organisations
- To assess the potential impact of dam failure
- To supervise dam rehabilitation programmes
