Andhra Pradesh releases welfare calendar with 23 schemes for FY22

Advocacy & Government: The Andhra Pradesh government has released a welfare calendar for FY 2021-22. The cabinet has announced a monthly schedule for the implementation of 23 welfare schemes and programmes.

Jagananna Vasathi Deevena, which will benefit more than 15.5 lakh students will be implemented in April 2021. Jagananna Vidya Deevena, a fee reimbursement scheme will be implemented in April, July, and December 2021, and February 2022. Jagananna Vidya Kanuka, which will benefit more than 42 lakh students will be implemented in June 2021.

The cabinet also approved the EBC Nestham scheme for women in the age group of 45-60 years who belong to the Economically Backward Classes category. The government will spend INR 670 crore on this scheme, and beneficiaries will receive financial assistance of INR 15,000 per annum.

Other schemes whose schedule has been announced include Matsyakara Bharosa, Rythu Bharosa, Kapu Nestham, Nethanna Nestham, and Jagananna Thodu.  These are expected to benefit more than five crore people in the state.

Moreover, nearly 5.7 crore people will receive monthly social welfare pensions, with the implementation of YSR Law Nestham, Jagananna Gorumudda, YSR Sampoorna Poshana, financial assistance to imams and mouzams, distribution of house sites, and home delivery of rations.

Read this article on how programme evaluations could improve the effectiveness of public policies and drive more efficient use of public funds.

Fundraising & Communications: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a circular extending the validity of FCRA registration certificates to September 30th, 2021. This applies to all FCRA licences that have expired or will expire between September 29th, 2020 and May 31st, 2021. The decision to extend the deadline has been driven by the exigencies arising from the COVID-19 situation.

FCRA refers to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, which permits charitable organisations based in India to raise funds from foreign sources.

The order also clarified that nonprofits that have already opened an account and have the requisite permission to receive foreign aid, can henceforth receive it only in these newly-opened accounts.

The FCRA law was amended in September 2020 to include a clause that mandated that all nonprofits receiving foreign aid must necessarily open an account in State Bank of India’s New Delhi Main Branch. The government had initially set the deadline for this account opening as March 31st, 2021; it later extended it to June 30th, 2021 after several nonprofits argued in court that there had been delays because necessary approvals from MHA had not been received.

Several organisations have not been able to receive foreign funds during the crisis caused by the second wave, and this has impacted their COVID-19 relief efforts. Relaxing the foreign funding rules could significantly help organisations ramp up their operations to help individuals, supply critical healthcare equipment, and respond to communities in rural areas.

Read this article to know how amending the FCRA can have unforeseen implications.

Philanthropy & CSR: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued a circular that allows corporate spending on health infrastructure for COVID-19 care to qualify as corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure.

This includes setting up medical oxygen generation and storage plants, manufacturing and supply of oxygen concentrators, ventilators, cylinders, and other medical equipment to counter COVID-19.  

The announcement comes at a time when all efforts are being directed towards expediting efforts to support the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

According to the circular, companies can now undertake projects and activities in collaboration with other companies using CSR funds. Additionally, they can contribute to specified research and development projects, as well as publicly funded universities and certain organisations that conduct research in science, technology, engineering, and medicine.

The government had earlier clarified that setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID-19 care facilities would also be considered a CSR activity. Rajesh Verma, the Corporate Affairs Secretary, has requested businesses to consider converting vacant office buildings into COVID-19 facilities to cater to the rapidly increasing caseload.

Read this article to understand why media attention on COVID-19 deaths due to lack of oxygen in big cities has skewed donor priorities.