Lok Sabha Question No. 1851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-19
Subject: Burden of Reverse Migration
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Mimi Chakraborty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1851

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2022

## Burden of Reverse Migration

## 1851. MS. MIMI CHAKRABORTY:

- Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  rural  economy  is  still  stressed  with  the  burden  of  continued  reverse migration that started during the Covid-19 induced lockdown; (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; (c)  whether  the  overall  budgetary  allocation  for  rural  economy  has  declined  as  a proportion of both total expenditure and GDP in 2023 and is the lowest since 2018-19 with  its  share  in  GDP  being  only  0.5  per  cent  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the reasons therefor; and (d) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ride the rural economy
- out from the pandemic induced crisis?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a), (b) and (d): The strength of the rural economy can be seen from the growth in the agricultural  sector,  which  is  the  main  source  of  income  in  rural  areas.  With  agricultural activities  being  exempted  from  COVID-19  pandemic-related  restrictions,  farming  and allied  activities  have  continued  without  hindrances.  According  to  the  estimates  by  the National  Statistical  Office,  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation,  the Gross Valve Added (GVA) at basic and constant prices, in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing  sectors,  grew  at  the  rate  of  4.5%  and  4.6%  in  Q1  and  Q2  of  2022-23, respectively. These growth rates in the corresponding quarters in 2021-22 were 2.2% and 3.2%. Strong agricultural growth signals strong prospects for the rural economy.

To provide employment to returnee migrants during COVID-19 pandemic, the Government had launched the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan of 125 days on June 20, 2020 to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected persons in rural areas, in 116 selected districts across 6 States of Bihar,

Jharkhand,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Odisha,  Rajasthan  and  Uttar  Pradesh.  The  Abhiyaan ended on October 22, 2020 and a total of Rs. 50.78 crore person-days employment was generated with a total expenditure of Rs. 39,293 crores during the Abhiyaan.

Further, key measures taken for the benefit of the rural economy include Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana; additional Emergency Working Capital Funding for farmers through NABARD;  concessional  credit  through  Kisan  Credit  Cards;  fund  transfer  under  PMKISAN,  PM  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  claim  payments;  additional  subsidy  for  DAP  &  P&K fertilizers;  extension  of  SVAMITVA  Scheme  to  all  States/UTs;  enhancing  agricultural credit and infrastructure funds; interest subvention for dairy cooperatives; liquidity support under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund to states; enhanced MGNREGA budgetary support, Agri-Infrastructure Fund for farm gate infrastructure; scheme for Formalisation of Micro  Food  Enterprises,  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana,  National  Animal Disease  Control  Programme,  Animal  Husbandry  Infrastructure  Development  Fund, Promotion of Herbal Cultivation and Beekeeping and extension of Operation Greens from Tomatoes, Onion and Potatoes to all fruits and vegetables.

Further,  the  Government  is  implementing,  inter-alia,    Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana  National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Deen Dayal Upadhyay - Gramin Kaushalya Yojana, Pradhan  Mantri  Awaas  Yojana  -  Gramin,  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak  Yojana,  and National Social Assistance Programme to bring about overall improvement in the quality of  life  of  the  people  in  rural  areas  through  employment  generation,  strengthening  of livelihood opportunities, promoting self-employment, skilling of rural youths, provision of social assistance and other basic amenities.

(c) The details of budgetary allocation to the Department of Rural Development vis-a-vis utilisation, for the last five years are given below:

(Figures in ₹ in crores)

| Year    |   Budget estimate | Revised estimate   |   Actuals |
|---------|-------------------|--------------------|-----------|
| 2017-18 |            105448 | 109042.45          |    108560 |
| 2018-19 |            112404 | 112403.92          |    111842 |
| 2019-20 |            117647 | 122649.00          |    122098 |
| 2020-21 |            120147 | 197376.53          |    197377 |
| 2021-22 |            131519 | 153558.07*         |    160433 |

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