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Slashing the Government Schemes

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October 28, 2022

Why in news?

Over the past three years, over 50% of existing central government-sponsored schemes have been discontinued, subsumed, revamped or rationalised into other schemes.

What is the issue about?

  • Subsuming of schemes - Under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, there are just 3 schemes now out of 19 schemes.
    • Mission Shakti
      • SAMARTHYA (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Creche, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana/ Gender Budgeting)
      • SAMBAL (One Stop Centre, Mahila Police Volunteer, Women's helpline/Swadhar/Ujjawala/Widow Homes etc.)
    • Mission Vatsalya – (Child Protection Services and Child Welfare Services)
    • Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 - (Umbrella ICDS - Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, National Creche Scheme)
  • Under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, there are now 3 out of 20 schemes.
    • Krishonnati Yojana
    • Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperatives
    • Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

To know more about Government Schemes, click here

  • Discontinuation of schemes - The Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy has ended 3 schemes which include Dairying through Cooperatives, National Dairy Plan-II, etc.
  • Lack of information - There is little information on the National Project on Organic Farming or the National Agroforestry Policy.
  • Funding cuts - The Nirbhaya fund (2013) which focuses to improve the public safety of women in public spaces was allocated Rs. 1,000 annually (2013-16), but remains largely unspent.
  • The fertilizer subsidies have been in decline with NPK fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) allocation 35% lower than revised estimates in FY21-22.
  • The allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) went down by approximately 25% in the FY22-23 Budget, with the allocated budget at Rs. 73,000 crore.
  • In the case of Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (provision of immediate employment and livelihood opportunities to rural poor), Rs. 39,293 crore was spent against an announced budget of Rs. 50,000 crore.
  • Delay in salaries - For Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), there have been delays in salaries for up to 6 months.
  • Ignoring the biodiversity - Funding for wildlife habitat development under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has declined.
  • Allocations for Project Tiger have been slashed.

What is the need of the hour?

  • Rather than downsizing government schemes and cutting the funding, better public service delivery should be ensured.
  • There is a need to build capacity for an efficient civil service to meet today’s challenges - providing a corruption-free welfare system, running a modern economy and providing better public goods.

 

References

  1. The Hindu│ The dismal case of slashing schemes and cutting funds
  2. PIB│All major schemes of WCD Ministry
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