India News

Why is centre making farm ponds and training masons?

Published

10 years ago

February 3, 2017

FM Arun Jaitley with the Budget papers before presenting them in parliament on Feb 1 (photo: Arun Jaitley); the Budget has set a target of additional five lakh farm ponds in rural areas in 2017-2018.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]New Delhi-directed and monitored rural sector spending in the era of economic liberalisation

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr

One of the curious facts contained in Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s 2017-18 Budget speech in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday is exceeding the target in making farm ponds. Jaitley in the speech had said: “The target of five lakh farm ponds and 10 lakh compost pits announced in the last Budget from MNGREGA funds will be fully achieved. In fact, against the five lakh farm ponds, it is expected that about 10 lakh farm ponds would be completed by March 2017. During 2017-18, another five lakh farm ponds will be taken up. This single measure will contribute greatly to drought proofing of gram panchayats.”

It might appear cynical to point a finger when the government not only meets the target but exceeds the target as well. What seems to emerge from this fact about the creation of farm ponds is that the money is being spent from the rural employment guarantee scheme of MGNREGA, which can be claimed is a good thing. It cannot be disputed. But the curious issue is who is taking the decision on making farm ponds? Is it the decision of the gram panchayat? Does it feel that it is what the village needs? Or is it a gratuitous way of keeping people employed under the MGNREGA scheme? The classic version is that of digging holes and filling them up in times of economic depression. In 2004, in the first UPA-I Budget, the then finance minister P Chidambaram talked about renewing water bodies in the villages.

It would appear that the imperious central government wants to be seen working at grassroot levels, a sort of micro-management when it is a well known fact that agriculture is a state subject, and decisions with regarding to agriculture should be made at the local level. There can also be a debate on whether farm ponds are part of an irrigation source or safe drinking water source. Or is part of the much-touted water-harvesting?

It is a well known fact that from ancient times, digging up tanks in villages has been an established practice for purposes of drinking water as well as irrigation. But should that decision be left to the panchayats? Why is the central government taking up the responsibility of digging farm ponds? It is, of course, a good deed. But the central government should be doing bigger things and leave small issues to the local authorities to sort out. Remember that farm ponds by their very nature are not permanent structures. They are in need of constant upkeep.

The other curious detail in the finance minister’s Budget speech with regard to spending in the rural sector is the training of masons. While announcing an increase in the allocation of Rs 4,500 crore in 2017-18 under the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission for promotion of skill development and livelihood opportunities for people in rural areas, the minister said: “Mason training will be provided to 5 lakh persons by 2022” and the immediate target is of turning out 20,000 masons in 2017-18.

There is no doubt that the country needs trained masons and other skilled workers. But that issue needs to be addressed at various levels and the central government should not be involved in it, and it should not be part of the aims of the Union Budget. Why is there so much of involvement on the part of the government? Of course, socialists and other do-gooders are sure to hail the work of the NDA government with regard to farm ponds and masons. It only proves that the right-wing BJP does not have a mind of its own with regard to its economic philosophy. It shows that this is not the party of economic reforms and of less governmental interference in the economic activities and the lives of the people in the country. This government wants to prop up the economy and be seen to be doing it. The farm ponds-and-masons story says it all.

Lead picture: FM Arun Jaitley with the Budget papers before presenting them in parliament on Feb 1 (photo: Arun Jaitley); the Budget has set a target of additional five lakh farm ponds in rural areas in 2017-2018.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

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PM Modi’s Saptadhara Vision: 7 streams driving India’s next growth phase

PM Modi outlined “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, identifying seven streams including manufacturing, farming, technology, defence, green energy and soft power.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday, outlined “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, describing seven key streams that he said can drive India’s next phase of growth and strengthen its journey towards self-reliance and development.

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PM Modi called manufacturing the first stream of Saptadhara and stressed the need to significantly strengthen the sector.

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The Prime Minister highlighted cost, quality and scale as important factors for Indian manufacturers to compete globally. He also stressed the importance of attractive packaging and precision in manufacturing.

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Technology and innovation

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