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Meritocracy India International 3 October 2015 8 facilities, and harmonious living. Members of the Rajya Sabha may select a village in the rural area in the State they represent. Nominated MPs can choose a village in rural area anywhere in India. Each MP has to develop three model villages by 2019, the first one by 2016. There was generally enthusiastic support to this idea, and India is expected to have (543 + 245) x 3 = 2,364 model villages by 2019. And the model villages will go on expanding via SAGY or self-help, or competitiveness. NEW FARMER-ORIENTED SCHEMES In July 2015, Modi Government cleared several new farmer-oriented schemes. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna is aimed at fulfilling the dream “har khet ko pani” (water for every field). Central Government alone will provide Rs. 50,000 crore for this mega scheme, while States, too, will contribute. Earlier, only 33 per cent of the crop damage in rains was compensated. Modi Government increased it to 50 per cent. It was a big decision. An improved crop insurance programme for better and quick compensation for crop damages in calamities is on the anvil. National Agricultural E-market was created. Presently, the mandis (markets) in India are manipulated by strongmen with political backing, denying farmers fair prices. National online mandi will give direct access to the farmer and help him procure better prices. On 2 May, 2015, Prime Minister Modi launched 24x7 Doordarshan Kisan programme. Every farmer will have Soil Health Cards by 2018. Soil health cards have been devised to help farmers increase productivity. Lab-to-land slogan of PM Modi is aimed at ensuring that research breakthroughs in agricultural laboratories reach the farmers. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna Thousands of villages have remained deprived of road connectivity for decades, affecting health, education and all aspects of village life, even marriages. The government has now planned 110 kilometers of rural roads every day under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. New Roads for India at a Faster Pace Prime Minister Modi personally steered the plan for 10,000 kilometers of new roads in the year 2015-16. Modi's “maximum governance” planned to raise 3 lakh crore rupees to double highway construction to never-seen-before 30 kilometers a day. Four Dham Yatra is to be linked to national highways at a cost of Rs. 11,000 crore. (The Pioneer, 21 May 2015). ECONOMIC GROWTH An investment of six lakh crore rupees has been planned in multiple sectors. IMF and World Bank have complimented India on its economic recovery and growth. President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, congratulated the Prime Minister on his visionary steps and said the world needed more leaders like Modi. GDP Growth : GDP has grown at an impressive 7.3 per cent in FDI : As a result of vigorous campaigning by Electo-Meritocrat Prime the financial year 2014-2015, made possible by expansions in the service sector (by 11.5 per cent) and manufacturing sector. Minister Modi in India and Abroad, Rs. 1,70,000 crore of FDI came to India in the first year itself. This was heard on NDTV 24x7. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Bank Yojna : Under this scheme, launched in April 2015, 57.7 million small businesses will be provided loans up to Rs. 50,000 by MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency).

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