Ministry of Jal Shakti: 'Swachh Gaon, Shudh Jal - Behtar Kal' Campaign

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Context and Objective

The Ministry of Jal Shakti's Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) has launched the 'Swachh Gaon, Shudh Jal - Behtar Kal' campaign, running from 1st July 2024 to 31st August 2024. This two-month awareness campaign aims to promote the use of safe water and sanitation practices at the village and panchayat levels. The initiative is part of a broader collaboration with the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign, launched on 24th June 2024 by Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda. The campaign underscores the Indian government's commitment to public health, particularly in reducing childhood mortality due to diarrhoea and fostering a culture of health and hygiene across rural India.

Campaign Focus Areas

The campaign focuses on several key areas:

1. Strengthening Health Infrastructure: Ensuring the maintenance of health facilities and the availability of essential medical supplies like ORS and Zinc, especially in rural areas.
2. Improving Access to Clean Water and Sanitation: Implementing quality control measures and sustainable practices for safe drinking water and sanitation.
3. Enhancing Nutritional Programs: Tackling malnutrition to prevent diarrhoeal diseases.
4. Promoting Hygiene Education: Providing necessary facilities in schools and educating children on hygiene practices.

Goals

The primary goal of the campaign is to achieve zero child deaths from diarrhoea through a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach. Additional objectives include achieving and sustaining the Open Defecation Free Plus Model status in all villages and improving overall public health in rural India, thereby contributing to a Sampoorna Swasth & Swachh Bharat (completely healthy and clean India).

Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) Results for 2021-22 and 2022-23

Overview: The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the results of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) for 2021-22 and 2022-23 on 14th June 2024. The surveys covered the periods from April 2021 to March 2022 and October 2022 to September 2023, respectively. The survey aimed to assess the performance and growth of unincorporated non-agricultural establishments in India.

Key Results:

• Growth in Establishments and Workers:
  • The number of establishments increased by 5.88% from 5.97 crore in 2021-22 to 6.50 crore in 2022-23.
  • The number of workers increased by 7.84% from 9.8 crore in 2021-22 to 11 crore in 2022-23.
  • Gross Value Added (GVA) saw a growth of 9.83% during the same period.
• Sectoral Insights:
  • The highest number of establishments were in the 'other services' sector (37.88%), followed by 'trade' (34.71%) and 'manufacturing' (27.41%).
  • Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of establishments, followed by West Bengal and Maharashtra.
• Digital and Financial Inclusion:
  • Use of the internet for entrepreneurial purposes increased by 7.2%.
  • Average fixed assets per establishment rose from Rs. 2,81,013 to Rs. 3,18,144.
  • Outstanding loans per establishment increased from Rs. 37,408 to Rs. 50,138.
• Women Entrepreneurship:
  • 54% of proprietary establishments in the manufacturing sector were run by women entrepreneurs.

Survey Challenges and Methodology:

• The survey period of ASUSE 2021-22 was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during April to June 2021, affecting the annual aggregate estimates.
• The ASUSE surveys followed a multi-stage stratified sampling scheme, covering rural and urban areas across India, excluding inaccessible villages in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Data collection was done through oral enquiry and recorded using Pen-and-Paper Personal Interviews (PAPI) for 2021-22 and Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) for 2022-23.

Significance: The unincorporated non-agricultural sector is crucial for the Indian economy due to its role in absorbing a significant portion of the workforce and contributing to the GDP. The surveys highlight the sector's resilience, growth in digital adoption, and increased financial inclusivity, reflecting its evolving dynamics and importance.

Second Meeting of Financing Women Collaborative (FWC)

Key Facts

1. Entities Involved in Launching the Initiative
   • Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP): Incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018, transitioned to a public-private partnership in 2022.
   • Partners: TransUnion CIBIL (TU CIBIL), MicroSave Consulting (MSC), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), various public and private sector partners.
2. Purpose of the Initiative
   • To accelerate access to finance for women entrepreneurs.
   • To strengthen the ecosystem for women-led development by fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
3. Key Facts and Initiatives
   • Event Details: The second convening of FWC was held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, on 5th July 2024.
   • Participants: Senior officials from NITI Aayog, RBI, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of MSME, SIDBI, public and private sector banks, CSOs/NGOs, and women entrepreneurs.
   • Key Speakers: Representatives from NITI Aayog, RBI, Ministry of Finance, MSME, SIDBI, SBI, Bank of India, Gates Foundation, MAVIM, TU CIBIL, and MSC.
   • Objectives: Enhance credit readiness of women entrepreneurs, foster collaboration, amplify research and good practices.
   • Initiatives Launched:
     • Partnership between MAVIM and MSC to improve access to finance through alternate credit rating mechanisms.
     • MoU exchange between WEP and GroW Network (founded by AfD, SIDBI, and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation).
     • Launch of the “Seher” program by TU CIBIL.
     • Launch of the “Shine” program in partnership with CreditEnable to strengthen credit readiness of women-led enterprises.
     • SEWA Bank’s commitment to reach more women entrepreneurs as a member of FWC.