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.
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.
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.
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.
