-The Indian Express Substantial number of interest subvention scheme loans are diverted to non-agricultural uses. Government must switch to an income-support subsidy regime The Union budget for 2016-17 has provisioned Rs 15,000 crore on account of interest subvention for short-term agricultural credit, up by Rs 2,000 crore over the revised estimate for FY16. The mere shifting of this line item from the department of financial services to the department of agriculture...
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Cash transfers: Lost in transactions -Aarushi Kalra
-The Tribune The Centre for Equity Studies, Delhi, conducted a survey to gauge the impact of the switch to cash transfers on the consumption patterns of the poor in Chandigarh. The preference for kind vis-a-vis cash transfers was recorded. Importantly, public opinion found no place in the decision- making process. Feroza Begum had to make a choice between food security and her children's education. Allow me to rephrase it: Feroza Begum had...
More »aadhaar project: Last chance for a welfare state -Arghya Sengupta
-The Indian Express That’s what the aadhaar Act is. It was rightly categorised as a money bill and is wrongly expected to double up as a privacy statute With the billionth aadhaar number being issued, the aadhaar project is well on its way to becoming the centrepiece for governance in India irrespective of which government is in power. To that extent, critical engagement with the aadhaar act is an essential exercise...
More »MGNREGA will not suffer due to arrears of last fiscal, clarifies government
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government has rubbished media reports that performance of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in the current fiscal year will suffer due to arrears of wages of over Rs 8000 crore in 2015-16. Stating that certain facts in the reports have been highlighted without appreciating the larger picture, the government has clarified that is committed to ensure flow of adequate resources to the programme...
More »Over 90% of adults on aadhaar list -Mahendra Singh
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The enrolment of 100 crore residents under the aadhaar scheme will help the government address concerns that making the UID mandatory will eliminate the poor from government subsidies. With more than 90% of India's adult population enrolled, fears of exclusion have receded and alternative identities like voter IDs are not banned. "This will definitely help deserving people who really need subsidies and government help. aadhaar will...
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