National Ganga River Basin Authority, 2009

1. It was established in 2009 under Environment Protection Act, 1986 (which also declared Ganga as a 'National river'). It is financing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and coordinating authorities for Ganga under Jal Shakti Ministry.
2. In 2014, it is transferred from MoEF to the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
3. PM is the Chairperson. In 2016, it was changed to National Ganga Council (NGC).
4. NMCG (National Mission on Clean Ganga), 2016
   1. It is the implementation wing of NGC set up in 2016 under River Ganga Authority Order 2016 (which dissolved NGRBA).
   2. It has 2 tier management structure (Governing Council & Executive Committee - 1000 crore approval).
   3. It has 5 tier structure at the National, State & Dist levels: NGC (PM), Empowered Task Force (MoJS), NMCG (2016), State Ganga Committees & Dist Ganga Committees.
   4. NMCG organized Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan in 5 Ganga basin States - UK, UP, BR, JH, WB. It is campaign for awareness.
   5. Ganga Gram Swachta Sammelan = Emphasis on Open Defection Free, Solid and Liquid Waste Management, Water conservation, Groundwater Recharge, Modern Crematorium, Tree plantation, Organic & medicinal plant agri.
5. Namami Gange Programme
   1. It is an umbrella programme which integrates ongoing initiatives.
   2. The main pillars of NGP are Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure; River-Surface Cleaning in parts; Afforestation; Industrial Effluent Monitoring; River-Front Development; Bio-Diversity; Public Awareness; Ganga Gram.
   3. Commissioning of sewage treatment plants (STP) and laying sewer lines are at the heart of the mission to clean the Ganga.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana and ADIP Scheme

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to the BPL category.
• This is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government. The expenditure for implementation of the scheme is being met by the "Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund".
• The Scheme is being implemented by the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Importance of the scheme

• As per the Census figures of 2011, the population of senior citizens in India is 10.38 crore. More than 70% of the population of senior citizens live in rural areas of the country. A sizeable percentage (5.2%) of senior citizens suffer from some sort of disabilities related to old age. Projections indicate that the elderly population will increase to around 173 million by 2026.
• The Government has hence devised the Central Sector Scheme to provide Physical aids and Assisted Living Devices for senior citizens suffering from age-related disabilities/ infirmities, who belong to the BPL category.

Duration

The Scheme duration is for a period of 3 years ie. up to 2019-20.

Eligibility

• Senior Citizens, belonging to the BPL category and suffering from any of the age-related disability/infirmity viz.
• Low vision, Hearing impairment, Loss of teeth and Locomotor disability will be provided with such assisted-living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming the disability/infirmity manifested. The Scheme is expected to benefit 5,20,000 Senior Citizens across the country.

Salient features of the scheme

• Free of cost distribution of the devices, commensurate with the extent of disability/infirmity that is manifested among the eligible senior citizens.
• In case of multiple disabilities/infirmities manifested in the same person, the assistive devices will be given in respect of each disability/impairment.
• ALIMCO will undertake one-year free maintenance of the aids & assisted living devices.
• Beneficiaries in each district will be identified by the State Governments/UT Administrations through a Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector.
• As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district shall be women.
• The State Government/UT Administration/District Level Committee can also utilize the data of BPL beneficiaries receiving Old Age Pension under the NSAP or any other Scheme of the State/UT for the identification of senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
• The devices will be distributed in Camp mode.

Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) scheme

• The main objective of the Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) scheme is to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential.
• The aids and appliances supplied under the Scheme shall conform to BIS specifications to the extent possible.
• The scheme is implemented through implementing agencies such as the NGOs, National Institutes under this Ministry and ALIMCO (a PSU).

Eligibility of Implementing Agency under the Scheme

The following agencies would be eligible to implement the Scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, subject to fulfilment of laid down terms and conditions:

• Societies, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and their branches, if any, separately.
• Registered charitable trusts
• District Rural Development Agencies, Indian Red Cross Societies and other Autonomous Bodies headed by District Collector/Chief Executive Officer/District Development Officer of Zilla Parishad.
• National/Apex Institutes including ALIMCO function under the administrative control of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment/Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• State Handicapped Development Corporations.
• Local Bodies- Zilla Parishad, Municipalities, District Autonomous Development Councils and Panchayats.
• Hospitals are registered as a separate entity, as recommended by state/central government
• Nehru Yuvak Kendras.
• Grant-in-aid under the Scheme will not be given for commercial supply of aids/appliances.

Eligibility of the Beneficiaries

• A person with disabilities fulfilling the following conditions would be eligible for assistance under ADIP Scheme through authorized agencies:
• He/she should be an Indian citizen of any age.
• Should be certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner that he/she is disabled and fit to use the prescribed aid/appliance. Holds a 40% Disablement Certificate.
• A person who is employed/self-employed or getting a pension and whose monthly income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 20,000/- per month.
• In the case of dependents, the income of parents/guardians should not exceed Rs. 20,000/- per month.
• Persons who have not received assistance from the Government, local bodies and Non-Official Organisations during the last 3 years for the same purpose. However, for children below 12 years of age, this limit would be 1 year.

Quantum of Assistance

Aids/appliances which do not cost more than Rs. 10,000/ - are covered under the Scheme for single disabilities. However, in the case of SwDs, students beyond IX class, the limit would be raised to Rs.12,000/. In the case of multiple disabilities, the limit will apply to individual items separately in case more than one aid/appliance is required.

The quantum of assistance and income limit under the ADIP scheme is as follows:

Quantum of assistance and income limit under the ADIP scheme