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of 10,000 cr is needed for proper
implementation of this scheme. An-
other pre-requisite for this scheme is
annual revision of health budget by
20 per cent with a corresponding an-
nual increase of 6 -8 per cent of Gross
Domestic Product. The annual health
spending in India is approximately 1.6
per cent of the Gross Domestic Product
and the current government had pro-
posed to revise it to 2.5 per cent of GDP
by 2025.
Despite many schemes like mid-day
meal and free education under Sarv
Shiksha Abhiyan, the enrolment rate
in Government run schools is low due
to poor quality of education and in-
adequate infrastructure. The growing Political parties need • Sowing troubles The present government is
aspirations of communities in rural finding ways to win over discontented farmers
areas have coerced to spend on pri- to introspect on the
vate education under the influence of real issues affecting
changing lifestyles. This also has con- control over basic credit and insurance
tributed to high expenditure amidst the agriculture needs. This report also said that what-
stagnant income. But debt-waiver is not ever policies were decided in favour of
a not a solution for this. sector. The growing farmers, these always remained on the
Besides unproductive expendi- resentment among paper and never reached the farmer.
ture like health, education and social The findings of the NSSO (National
ceremonies, irrigation also entails farmers needs to be Sample Survey Orgnisation) 2003
expenditure for farmers. In rain fed ar- addressed with reveal that 40 percent of the farmers
eas scanty rain results in low yield and in India want to leave agriculture and
low income in irrigated areas scanty long-term solutions average monthly income per agricul-
rain results in high cost of running sub- ture household from various sources
mersible pumps and fall in net income. was 6,426 and the average monthly
As per the official estimates, 52 per cent higher at 0.63 degrees for rabi season. consumption expenditure per agricul-
of farm field is still un-irrigated. Even the Economic Survey 2017-18 ture household was 6,233.
The Government of India’s own stressed to take a radical follow-up There has also been a decline in the
document — Economic Survey, 2017-18 action to pull out the farmers from dis- rate of growth of agriculture advances
— states that the all India percentage of tress and meet the objective of doubling to small and marginal farmers as com-
net irrigated area to total cropped area of farmers’ income. How can a debt pared to the other farm size categories.
is merely 34.5 per cent. The projected waiver be helpful in such a situation? It has been observed that despite a
increase in average temperature, de- The National Commission on Farm- strong network of rural branches and
cline in average rainfall and increase in ers under the Chairmanship of Dr. MS an ostensibly strong emphasis on tar-
number of dry days- as predicted by the Swaminathan, constituted by the UPA get lending under various government
climate change specialists may take a I, submitted four reports in December schemes, a large number needy farm-
heavy toll on farmers’ incomes. 2004, August 2005, December 2005 ers remain excluded from the ambit of
According to the statistics available and April 2006. The fifth and final formal banking system. Can loan waiv-
on climate change, annual rainfall in report was submitted on October 4, er help those farmers?
the last forty years has registered a 2006. This report contained that agrar- The political parties need to in-
decline of about 80 millimetres. The ian distress has led the farmers to com- trospect on the real issues affecting
average kharif rainfall during this pe- mit suicides in recent years and said the agriculture sector. The growing
riod has declined by 26 millimetres and that adequacy and timeliness of institu- resentment among farmers needs to be
average rabi rainfall by 33 millimetres. tional credit is among the major causes addressed with long-term solutions,
The average increase in temperature of agrarian crisis. mere lip-service will not help.
during this period is recorded at about According to third report, farmers
0.45 degrees during kharif and a little need to have an assured access and letters@tehelka.com

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