Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PM FME)

On May 20, 2020, the Union Cabinet approved a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme called the "Prime Minister Scheme for Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME)" for the unorganized sector across India, with an outlay of Rs.10,000 crore. The expenditure will be shared between the Government of India and the states in a ratio of 60:40, meaning the Union Government will contribute Rs. 6,000 crore over five years.

In March 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a webinar on budget announcements for the farm sector, said a food processing revolution had been overdue for several decades.

“In the 21st century, in a time of increasing agricultural production, India needs a post-harvest food processing revolution, with a focus on value addition. It would have been good for the country had this been done two to three decades back,”

Here is the track record of Scheme - 

Actual Spending 202-21 - 395 cr
Actual spending 2021-22 -  326 cr
Revised 2022-23 - 290  Cr
Budget 2023-24 - 639 cr
Next year 2024-25 will be last year of scheme

The scheme was planned to spend Rs. 6,000 crore over 5 years but has only spent Rs. 1,011 crore in 3 years. For FY 2023-24, it has allocated Rs. 639 crore. Even if the government manages to spend the allocated amount (despite falling short by 66% in FY 2022-23), the total spending is likely to be around Rs. 1,650 crore over 4 years.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)

PMKMY is a pension scheme for farmers with up to 2 hectares of cultivable land. Farmers aged 18-40 are eligible to enroll in the scheme, which aims to provide an assured pension of Rs. 3000 per month once the farmer reaches 60 years of age.

Beneficiaries need to contribute Rs. 100 per month at the median entry age of 29 years. The Central Government will also contribute an equal amount to the Pension Fund.

Budget 2019-20 - 900 cr >> Actual - 200 cr

Budget 2020-21 - 200 cr >> Actual - 50 cr

Budget 2021-22 - 50 cr >> Actual - 0.50 cr

 On being asked by the standing committee to the ministry about such dismal records, Ministry replied

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan DhanYojana was launched in the month of September 2019 (FY 2019-20) and it was initially anticipated that about 5 crore beneficiaries will join the Scheme upto the year 2021-22. However, since it is a voluntary and contributory Pension Scheme for Small and Marginal Farmers, the anticipated number of farmers have not joined this Scheme mainly due to the reason that State/UTs could not found sufficient number of Small and Marginal Farmers in the age group of 18-40 years due to lesser number of landholding farmer in that age group.

The question that now arises is: Why are farmers unwilling to participate in this scheme? There are two likely explanations. First, the farmers may not find the program's terms favorable. Second, they may not have Rs. 100 per month to enroll in the program. According to the 'Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households and Land Holdings of Households in Rural India, 2019' report, 51% of farming households are in debt, with an average debt of Rs. 74,121. When the majority of agricultural households are already in debt, it is unrealistic to expect farmers to invest in pension plans while they are struggling to meet their current financial obligations.

Government anticipated the 5 crore farmers will join this scheme in 3 years. It has been 4 years of launch of this scheme and yet only 19 lakhs farmer have joined this scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan)

This Scheme does not need any introduction. It is the flagship scheme of the government under which the government gives Rs.6000 per annul  cash benefit to farmers. 

In her speech to Joint session of the parliament, President of India said this on 31st January 2023

11 crore small farmers of the country are also on the priority list of my government. These small farmers were deprived of government priority for decades. Now every effort is being made to make them empowered and prosperous. These small farmers have been given financial assistance of more than Rupees 2.25 lakh crore under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

However, according to the written answer given by the agriculture minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, to the Rajya Sabha on December 16, 2022 - 8.42 crore farmers received the 12th installment of Rs. 2000 under the PM Kisan Scheme (for August to November 2022).

This indicates that although the president's address listed 11 crore farmers as beneficiaries, the actual figure is 8.42 crore, 2.58 crore less than the president's speech.

Budget 2022-23 - 68,000 cr
Revised 2022-23 - 60,000  Cr
Budget 2023-24 - 60,000 cr

These numbers lead to the conclusion that the Scheme has 10 crore beneficiaries. Total budget outlay is 60,000 cr and each farmer gets Rs.6,000 that mean, beneficiary farmers are 10 crore. The president cited 11 crore number as beneficiary.

Secondly, the cost of diesel has increased to Rs. 25 per litre since the introduction of this scheme in February 2019. This eats up half of the gains from the scheme ( Click here to read in details).

Therefore, farmers anticipated that the government would boost the monetary benefit from Rs. 6,000 to Rs.8,000, but the government belied the hope.

Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)

PMSSY has been launched with the objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and to also augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.

PMSSY has two components - setting up of new AIIMS like institutes and upgradation of existing Govt. Medical Colleges (GMCs). Setting up of 22 new AIIMS and 75 Government Medical Colleges up-gradation projects has been approved under this scheme.

Budget 2022-23 - 10,000 cr
Revised 2022-23 - 8,250 cr

Budget 2023-24 - 3365 cr

PM SHRI Schools (PM SCHools for Rising India)

In September 2022, The Union Cabinet approved a new centrally sponsored scheme - PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India). This will be a new scheme for development of more than 14500 schools across the country as PM SHRI Schools by strengthening select existing schools being managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies. PM SHRI  schools is to be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total project cost of Rs. 27360 crore which includes a central share of Rs. 18128 crore for the period of five years from year 2022-23 to 2026-27.

This scheme is sanctioned in September 2022 but it genesis track backed to the 1st February 2021. In Budget speech of the 2021-22, Finance minister announced

More than 15,000 schools will be qualitatively strengthened to include all components of the National Education Policy. They shall emerge as exemplar schools in their regions, handholding and mentoring other schools to achieve the ideals of the Policy

But not a single rupee allocated for these 15,000 schools during the two years of the February 2021 to February 2023.

PM SHRI scheme envisaged to spent 18,128 crore during the year 2022-23 to 2026-27. But, None rupee spend in the year 2022-23. For the 2023-24, Provision of the only 4,000 crore is made.