The Centre’s budget allocation against total central plan has been on a decline for agriculture, education and health whereas it is up for urban housing, according to data published by a parliamentary panel.
The Demand for Grants report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing has shown that the share of Department of Agriculture, and Farmers Welfare against total Central Plan has been reduced to 2.54 per cent in 2024-25 from 3.53 per cent in 2021-22.
Similarly, the share of Department of School Education and Literacy against total Central Plan has been reduced to 1.51 per cent in 2024-25 from 1.57 per cent in 2021-22 and that of Department of Health and Family Welfare to 1.82 per cent from 2.04 per cent. cent.
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On the other hand, the share of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in total Central Plan has increased to 1.71 per cent in 2024-25 from 1.56 per cent in 2021-22.
Pointing out the continuous decline of share of agriculture in the Central plan, despite the absolute allocation has been raised, the committee has expressed its concern. “In view of the decline in growth rate of agriculture in 2023-24 (provisional estimates) to just 1.4 per cent, lowest in the last seven years, as against average annual growth rate of 4.18 per cent over the past four years, the continuous “The decline in allocation to agriculture as percentage of total central plan may further accentuate the decline in growth rate of agriculture,” it said.
As the agriculture plays a pivotal role in providing livelihoods to substantial segment of the population especially in rural areas, in generating employment and in providing food security, the Committee urges the government to enhance allocation to agriculture especially to improve productivity.
The panel has also suggested the nomenclature of the “Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare” should be changed to “Department of Agriculture, Farmers & Farm Laborers Welfare”.
Recommending the support under PM-KISAN scheme be doubled to ₹12,000/year from current ₹6,000, it has said that seasonal incentives given to farmers may also be extended to tenant farmers and farm labourers.
The panel has also favored legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) and said: “Implementing a legally binding MSP in India is essential not only for safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods but also for promoting rural economic growth and enhancing national food security. The benefits and advantages of implementation of MSP as legal guarantee far outweigh its challenges. This would stimulate economic activity in these areas, benefiting local businesses and economies.”