PM-Aasha

Yielding little results, does govt need to review PM-AASHA scheme?

Yielding little results, does govt need to review PM-AASHA scheme?

The idea in itself is not new and previously several attempts have been made to involve private players in official procurement, most recently in oilseeds

Though there has been an increase in acreage and production of these items, there hasn't been a big reduction in paddy and wheat acreage

The fifth installment of NFHS revealed a surge in female sterilisations in 14 of India's 36 states and Union Territories

However, achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil will remain a distant dream unless drastic policy measures are taken

PDPS is part of the broader bouquet of schemes called Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) that was launched in September 2018

Both were well-intentioned but inadvertently kept several farmers out and in any case had complicated implementation protocols on MSP

One govt after another has been reaching out to the farmer just ahead of crucial polls, offering remunerative prices for his crops in a bid to score electoral victories

Critical to the Covid-19 fight at community level, they remain undervalued and identified only as volunteers

New guidelines of Centre's procurement plan for farm commodities will offer relief to farmers at a time when prices of major kharif crops have fallen below their state-mandated MSP for 2018-19

While the farmers view the PM-Aasha as old wine in new bottles, the state governments consider it financially burdensome