Government Schemes in India play a crucial role in solving many socio-economic problems that beset Indian society, and thus their awareness is a must for any concerned citizen. These are launched by the government to address the social and economic welfare of the citizens of this nation.Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM AASHA) is a scheme that aims at ensuring fair price for farmers and their produce.By strengthening the procurement process, the PM-AASHA scheme will improve the income of the farmers to a greater extent.

TOPICS

  • PM-AASHA
  • Components
  • Challenges in PM-AASHA

PM-AASHA

The Government has approved a new umbrella scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan” (PM-AASHA) which will provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) assurance to farmers.

  • The Scheme is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018.
  • The increase in MSP can improve farmer’s income by strengthening procurement mechanism in coordination with the State Governments.

COMPONENTS

The three components outlined under the scheme is thus aimed towards enhancing agricultural productivity, reducing cost of cultivation which will enable boosting and securing farmer’s income in the long run.

  • Price Support Scheme (PSS) - In Price Support Scheme (PSS), physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds and Copra will be done by Central Nodal Agencies with proactive role of State governments. It is also decided that in addition to NAFED, Food Cooperation of India (FCI) will take up PSS operations in states /districts. The procurement expenditure and losses due to procurement will be borne by Central Government as per norms. To read the complete guidelines, click here.
  • Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS)- Under Price Deficiency Payment Scheme this scheme (PDPS), it is proposed to cover all oilseeds for which MSP is notified. In this direct payment of the difference between the MSP and the selling/modal price will be made to pre-registered farmers selling his produce in the notified market yard through a transparent auction process. All payment will be done directly into registered bank account of the farmer. This scheme does not involve any physical procurement of crops as farmers are paid the difference between the MSP price and Sale/modal price on disposal in notified market. The support of central government for PDPS will be given as per norms.
  • Pilot of Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPPS): As per the Pilot of Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPPS) the private sector will take part in the procurement operations. The states will have an option to carry out the scheme on pilot basis in selected APMCs with involvement from the private sector.

TOPICS CHALLENGES FOR THE PM-AASHA

Like all government schemes, the PM-AASHA scheme has its own share of challenges. They are as follows:

  • It does not strengthen the procurement mechanism infrastructure in the country which is robust for wheat and rice.
  • A 2017 study by K.S. Aditya found that only 24% households were aware of the MSP in place. Further studies found that the MSPs were only functioning in a few states.
  • Procurement Infrastructure is the most challenging for implementing this scheme because the concentration on the procurement infrastructure in the scheme is deficient.
  • The lack of an efficient distribution system is one of the significant issues of taking this scheme to the next level.
  • The scheme benefits the traders by allowing them to manipulate the prices.
  • Procurement by private players is also a significant concern to the successful implementation of the scheme.
  • There are a few issues in funding as the NAFED has been in losses since 2012. Thus the financial instability of the NAFED is also a significant concern for the success of the scheme.
  • WIth the exception of wheat and rice, the quantity of produce procured by designated state agencies was limited, leading to low awareness.
  • As per the evaluation by the NITI Aayog, the procurement facilities in several states were found to be ‘insufficient’ in the long run.

In order to test the dynamic knowledge of the candidate, UPSC and other Government  Exams will have questions regarding the various schemes overseen by the Government of India. So the candidate is required to know about these schemes. more government schemes here