Question : Consumption in Rural India

(a) whether the Government is aware about Market Researcher reports that consumption in rural India has shown a slowdown during the last one quarter and if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard;

(b) whether it is a fact that slowdown in rural India is due to farm distress and stagnant incomes erode demand as per data given by Researcher and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is also a fact that rural economy has been plagued by falling crop prices and declining incomes, resulting in a severe slump in demand;

(d) if so, whether this is not an alarming situation and needs to be taken care by the Government; and

(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a), (b) & (c) No such report has come to the notice of the Government.

(d) & (e) Agriculture being a State subject, the State Governments take appropriate measures for development of agriculture in the State. However, Government of India supplements the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures and budgetary support. The Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments through various schemes/ programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme; National Agriculture Market Scheme (e-NAM), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, National Food Security Mission, Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana etc. Further, there is a substantial increase in allocation for agriculture and allied activities, irrigation and rural development to about Rs. 2,83,202 crore in 2020-21(Budget Estimates) from Rs. 2,49,910 crore in 2019-20 (Revised Estimates).
In addition, Government has already been implementing various measures to boost rural spending and rural demand which includes the cash transfer scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi which provides an income support of Rs. 6000 per year to farmers and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana for providing old age minimum fixed pension to the eligible small and marginal farmers on attaining the age of 60 years. Several programmes/schemes which inter-alia, includes Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Deen Dayal Upadhyay-Gramin Kaushal Yojana, National Social Assistance Programme, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee National RuRBAN Mission etc. have also been under implementation. These schemes/programmes are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers as well as also helping in uplift the standard of living of the rural households of the country.
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