Day 72 – Q 1. Recently government has launched an ambitious PM KISAN scheme. What are its objectives? What are the institutional and infrastructural impediments in implementing this scheme?
1. Recently government has launched an ambitious PM KISAN scheme. What are its objectives? What are the institutional and infrastructural impediments in implementing this scheme?
Introduction
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme, announced in the interim budget of 2019-2020, aims to give 6,000 a year to 12 Cr farmer families in three equal instalments who own up to two hectares of cultivable land.
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Objectives of PM KISAN scheme:
- To supplement the financial needs of small and marginal farmers for procuring various inputs related to agriculture and allied activities.
- To give a boost to rural consumption.
- To augment government efforts in aim of doubling farmers income by 2022.
The intention of PM KISAN is noble but it is bound to face some impediments in its implementation.
Institutional impediments:
- Non-existence framework for implementing it at such a large scale in such short time.
- Problem in identification of beneficiaries – majority of the States have incomplete tenancy records and land records are not digitized.
- Non-timely DBT payments as evident from other welfare schemes based on DBT.
- Challenges in recognition of land rights in tribal and forest areas who are among the most vulnerable people.
- Challenge of creating awareness in far flung areas in such short period.
Infrastructural impediments:
- Inadequate ICT infrastructure as this scheme is based on Aadhar.
- Other issues related to Aadhar which are being faced in other schemes such as non-matching of fingerprints due to excessive manual labour.
- Last mile banking penetration issues and lack of financial inclusion of small and marginal farmers.
- Lack of proper grievance redressal mechanism.
- Incapacity of states in terms of identifying the beneficiaries in such short time.
Conclusion
PM-KISAN is an ambitious scheme that has the potential to deliver significant welfare outcomes. However, the current top-down, rushed approach of the government ignores governance constraints and is therefore an alternative bottom-up strategy and well-planned implementation mechanism would allow weaknesses to be identified and rectified at the local level.
Best answer: Point_Nemo
