Page 27 - NIS English 16-28 Feb 2022

Union Budget | Village & Farmers

MSP DIRECTLY INTO ACCOUNT, E stimated expend iture of
Estimated expenditure of
FOCUS ON NATURAL FARMING 1,05,222

The MSP price of 2.37 lakh crore will be paid directly
into farmers' accounts. Government procurement
on fe
rtilise
r subsidie
crore
s.

included in the budget proposal for the first time. crore on fertiliser subsidies.
This will allow manure to be
The government's approach is a fitting retort to This will allow manu re to be
available
ape
r rate.
at a che
those who disseminate misinformation about MSP. available at a cheaper rate.
Chemical-free natural farming will be promoted
throughout the country, with a focus on farmers’ OILSEEDS PRODUCTION SCHEME
lands in 5-km wide corridors along the Ganges, at n The implementation of a comprehensive scheme
the first stage. to promote domestic oilseed production has
The year 2023 has been designated as the Year of been announced in the budget. "A sensible and
Millets by the government. Its objective is to raise comprehensive plan would be adopted with the
awareness about the nutrition and cultivation of goal of enhancing domestic production of oilseeds
to minimise our dependence on oilseed imports,"
coarse cereals in the changing climatic conditions. stated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
A new public-private partnership (PPP) scheme will
be launched to deliver digital and high-tech services FOOD PROCESSING WILL GAIN TRACTION
to farmers.
Through NABARD, financial aid will be provided to
agricultural start-ups and rural entrepreneurs. The n The Central Government, in collaboration with the
Emergency Credit Line Scheme will assist farmers. State Governments, will provide a comprehensive
"Kisan Drones" will be used for crop assessment, package for "adopting appropriate varieties of fruits
digitization of land records, and pesticide and and vegetables" and "using appropriate production
nutrient spraying. and harvesting techniques." State agricultural
The alternative minimum tax payment for universities will also be encouraged to revise their
curricula to meet the needs of natural, zero-budget,
cooperatives has been reduced from 18.5 percent and organic agriculture; modern agriculture; value
to 15percent. addition; and management.

BY 2025, ALL VILLAGES WILL BE 80 LAKH NEW HOUSES WILL BE BUILT
INTERNET-CONNECTED.

n Broadband connectivity will be provided in PPP n In 2022–23, 80 lakh houses will be built for
identified and eligible Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
mode to enable all e-services to be delivered in beneficiaries in both rural and urban areas. 48,000
villages as they are in cities. Under the BharatNet crores have been allocated for this purpose. The
project, the work of providing optical fibre to rural Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is one of Prime Minister
areas will be completed by 2025. Narendra Modi's most ambitious schemes.
TAP WATER TO 3.8 CRORE HOUSEHOLDS UNDER NEW PM-DEVINE SCHEME
HAR GHAR, NAL SE JAL SCHEME n A new scheme, Prime Minister’s Development
n • An allocation of Rs 60,000 crore has been made to cover Initiative for North-East (PM-DevINE Scheme) will be
3.8 crore households in 2022-23 under Har Ghar, Nal launched to promote development in the North-East
Se Jal scheme. The current coverage of Har Ghar, Nal region. The new Vibrant Village Program will include
Se Jal is 8.7 crore, out of which 5.5 crore households villages on the country's northern border to promote
were provided tap water in last 2 years itself. development in these villages.
The river linking n The budget includes Rs 1,400 crore for the Ken-Betwa river link project, which
will provide irrigation and drinking water to the people of Bundelkhand, who
plan to address are facing water scarcity. This scheme's goal is to provide irrigation facilities
on 9.08 lakh hectares of agricultural land. In addition to providing drinking
the water issue water to 62 lakh people, the project will generate 103 MW of hydropower and
27 MW of solar power. This project's revised budget for 2021-22 is Rs. 4,300
crore.

New India Samachar February 16-28, 2022 25