Governments on Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme

Minutes of the Video Conference meeting held on 12th October, 2017 with State

Governments on Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme.

The status of SHC scheme was reviewed in the Video Conference meeting held on 12th October, 2017 with the State Governments in which Officials from INM Division and NIC participated. In all 19 states attended the video conference namely Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur, Tripura and Puducherry.

2.The Joint Secretary (INM) welcomed the participants and briefed the States on the issues given below to be discussed in the Video Conference:

(i).Proposals on setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneurs.

(ii).Publicity of Soil Health Card at retailers through hoardings / posters / wall paintings.

(iii).Proposals for micro-nutrient component under Soil Health Management (SHM).

(iv).To bridge the gap of Portal entries and linking of Aadhar Number.

(v).Utilization of unspent balances and furnishing of UCs, progress and state share.

3.All the state representatives were requested to furnish the proposals for setting up Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur; publicity through posters / hoardings at retailers and Government Offices along with any new suggestions; furnishing of proposals for micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017. There is a huge gap in the portal entries which needs to be bridged through expediting portal entries. Linking of Aadhar Number with Soil Health Card is mandatory from cycle-II.

4.Thereafter, Additional Commissioner (RFS) reviewed the state-wise status as given below:

(i)Uttar Pradesh to complete 1st cycle by 31st October, 2017 and also furnish the required proposals.

(ii)Maharashtra – Guidelines of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur sent to District Magistrate and MPs for giving proposals. Proposal for micro-nutrients furnished with Annual Action Plan, however, it will be sent again. Proposal for publicity will be worked out and submitted. The UC for Rs. 543 lakh will be sent within a week.

(iii)Rajasthan assured to complete the 1st cycle by next week and also furnish the required proposals by next week. Proper mapping of entries is required for porting data to the National Portal.

(iv)Karnataka has received 6 proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, ADC (RFS) requested the state to send the 6 proposals and the other proposals as and when they are received. The State Government will furnish UCs by Month end.

(v)Andhra Pradeshto fast track and send the proposals for Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur and publicity by end of October, 2017. State Government giving micro-nutrient to farmers from their own budget, therefore, no requirement of funds.Field staff given instructions to link Aadhar with Soil Health Card.

(vi)West Bengal to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur and publicity by end of October, 2017. Proposal for micro-nutrients furnished with Annual Action Plan, however, it will be sent again. The data provided by State Government already ported by NIC, more data to be furnished. About 500 labels to be transmitted in Bengali for the National Portal. The UC in respect of SHC is being sent, under SHC revalidation proposal with justification for amount released in 2015-16 will be sent by State Government as e-tendering for STLs was not successful.

(vii)Tamil Nadu to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur and publicity by end of October, 2017. No requirement under micro-nutrient component as it is met from other schemes. State Government to ask Bhuvan to give data to NIC in excel form.

(viii)Telangana to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur and publicity by end of October, 2017. Proposal for micro-nutrients furnished with Annual Action Plan, however, it will be sent again.

(ix)Haryanato submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017.

(x)Punjab to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017. The likely date to complete cycle-I is 30th November, 2017.

(xi)Chattisgarh to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017. The proposal for last year’s fund release to be sent by e-mail to and .

(xii)Odishato submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur and publicity by end of October, 2017. Proposal for micro-nutrients furnished with Annual Action Plan, however, it will be sent again. The State is unable to complete 1st cycle as CSC is not making portal entries. ADC (RFS) advised to call a meeting of State Government with CSC.

(xiii)Kerala to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur and publicity by end of October, 2017. The State Government do not require funds for micro-nutrient components. ADC (RFS) suggested that the State Government may be requested to depute some Officer to resolve the issue of Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme targets and other financial matters. State Government to expedite the information on SHC dialects.

(xiv)Uttarakhand to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017. The UC for Rs. 35 lakh balance under SHC to be submitted by end of October, 2017.

(xv)Jammu & Kashmir to submit the final progress report of cycle-I. Proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component to be submitted by end of October, 2017. The UC / progress / state share is awaited from state.

(xvi)Jharkhand to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017. The UC / progress / state share is awaited for 2014-15, 2015-16 & 2016-17 from state.

(xvii)Manipur to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017. The state needs one training by NIC on National Portal. The State Government stated that they have furnished UC, however, the State Government was requested to furnish the UC again as it has not been received in DAC&FW

(xviii)Tripura to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017. The State Government stated that they have furnished UC, however, the State Government was requested to furnish the UC again as it has not been received in DAC&FW.

(xix)Pudhucherry to submit proposals for setting up of Soil Testing Projects by Rural Entrepreneur, publicity and micro-nutrient component by end of October, 2017. The State Government informed that the proposed target for 2017-18 is 3530 samples. ADC (RFS) suggested that the State may send an e-mail in this regard.

Action to be taken by DAC&FW

(i)To call a meeting of State Government of Odisha and CSC to resolve the matter of data entry in the National Portal.

(ii)To call a meeting with the State Government of Kerala to resolve the issue of Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme targets and other financial matters.

Action to be taken by NIC

(i)To organize a training programme in Manipur state on National Portal.