With elections looming, Odisha farmers are set to harvest a double bonanza as the biggest giveaway by the Union Interim Budget 2019-20 is the PM-KISAN (PM Kisan Samman Nidhi) and the State Government’s recently-launched KALIA scheme.
While the BJD Government claims its KALIA as a better scheme than PM-KISAN, small and marginal farmers of the State are to benefit with a double bonanza with the KALIA giving Rs 10,000 per farmer family and PM-KISAN ensuring direct transfer of Rs 6,000 to a farmer family owning below two hectares of land. As per the 2010-11 farm census, a whopping 80 per cent of farm households in Odisha own less than one hectare of land and another 14 per cent have land between one to two hectares.
However, the interest subvention of around 5 per cent for farmers ravaged by natural disasters in the State during their entire rescheduled period would give a much-needed support to distressed farmers. This interest subvention scheme, PM-KISAN and PMSYM (PM Shram-Yogi Maandhan) are biggest takeaway for Odisha in the Budget 2019-20. The PMSYM is set to benefit over 1.5 crore unorganised workers in Odisha having an income of below Rs 15,000/month as with mere Rs 100/month contribution from 29 to 60 years of age, they could draw an assured pension of Rs 3000/month post 60-years age. Experts see it as universalisation of pension in the country.
Besides farmers and labourers, Odisha would also witness an increase of around 15 per cent in net proceeds of taxes and duties as devolution from the Centre in 2019-20 as a whole. The State would receive Rs 39, 206.59 crore in 2019-20 vis-a-vs of Rs 34,037.20 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 31,272 crore in 2017-18, respectively. Additionally, the State would receive at least another over Rs 170 crore from service tax in 2019-20.
As per the Union Interim Budget 2019-20, in line with the Finance Commission guidelines, Odisha would see a jump in revenue flow from the Centre. The State would get an additional around Rs 5,170 crore via distribution of net centre proceeds of taxes and duties. And with this, the State would see net tax and duties transfer from the Centre in 2019-20 at around Rs 39, 400 crore.
After posting an over 173-per cent rise in net proceeds devolved under Central GST (CGST) in 2018-19, Fiscal 2019-20 would see around 21-per cent rise over the 2018-19 CGST devolutions to Odisha. The amount the State projected to receive under head Central GST in 2019-20 would be Rs 11,865.86 crore vis-a-vis Rs 9,800.98 crore in 2018-19.
When it comes to major schemes like ‘Core of core’, ‘Core’ and ‘Central schemes’, it’s a mixed bag for Odisha. The State would see more Central funds for schemes like PMFBY and interest subsidy on short-term credit for farmers. The biggest jump of over 51 per cent has been effected for ‘Core’ scheme like National Livelihood Mission Ajeevika, which saw an allocation of Rs 9,524 crore in 2019-20 vis-a-vis Rs 6,294 crore in 2018-19. Similarly, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has seen a hike of over 22 per cent to touch Rs 19,000 crore in 2019-20. The PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana has seen a hike of over 15 per cent to give a boost to the State’s pending irrigation projects. Overall, the Green Revolution saw a hike of around 7 per cent to touch Rs 12,612 crore in 2019-20.