The second part of the Budget Session 2022 commenced on 14th March and concluded on 8th April. Below are curated highlights from the Question Hour and Zero Hour during this leg of the session, and a brief summary of reports related to welfare schemes.

Highlights from Question Hour & Zero Hour

Nutrition & Food

• As on 6 April 2022, the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme, that enables portability of ration cards, was  operational in 35 states and Union Territories(UTs) covering approximately 77 crore beneficiaries i.e. 96.8 per cent of the total beneficiaries eligible for the National Food Security Act (NFSA). (Download our latest briefs on NFSA  to know the status and progress of the scheme.)
• The Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on “Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System” has been implemented in identified districts of 11 states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. As on 31 March 2022, these states have reported distribution of approximately 4.30 lakh metric ton (LMT) of fortified rice. 

Health

• As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) proposed to organise ‘Block-Level Health Melas’ between 18 and 22 April 2022 in all the blocks of every district across the country. The Health Mela was held for one day, where essential drugs and diagnostic services will be provided free-of-cost. As per National Health Mission (NHM) norms, support of ₹1 lakh is to be provided for each mela after seeking proposal from the states or UTs.
• As of 21 March 2022, total hospital admissions worth ₹37,185 crore were authorised under AB-PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) since its inception on 23 September 2018. Details of year-wise break-up are tabled below:

• Under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) has been sanctioned for implementation in 704 districts in the country. At the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre(PHC) levels, there are provisions for out-patient service such as  counselling, psycho-social interventions, ambulance, and outreach and support under the programme. At the district level,  in addition to above services, there is  a provision for 10 bedded in-patient facilities.

Others

• As on 24 March 2022, under the Jal Shakti Mission (JJM), 5.99 crore (31 per cent) rural households have been provided with tap water connections since the mission started in August 2019. (Download our latest brief on JJM to know the status and progress of the scheme.)
• Under the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA), employment generation of 50.78 crore persondays was achieved with a total expenditure of ₹39,293 crore. The scheme was launched for 125 days on 20 June 2020 to boost livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected persons, including youth, in rural areas in 116 selected districts across 6 states (Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh).

Highlights from Reports tabled in the Parliament

• The Standing Committee  of Labour, Textiles and Skill Development (2021-22) presented its 23rd report on ‘Implementation of the National Apprenticeship promotion (NAPS)/ National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)’.
  The schemes (NAPS and NATS) were launched to incentivise apprenticeship by providing financial incentives, technology, and advocacy support. The Committee report enquired on the progress and achievements of NAP and NAT schemes, drew comparisons on their functions, and recommended convergence between the two schemes. The Committee made a host of suggestions including regular updation of trade categories to enable large and diverse skill development.

• The Public Accounts Committee (2021-22)  presented its 49th report on ‘Assessments relating to Agricultural Income’.

The Budget Session 2022 of Parliament commenced on 31 January 2022 and concluded on 7 April 2022. To read the curated highlights of the first part of the Budget session click here.

Also See: State Budgets One-Stop Resource 2022