Nueva Delhi: a parliamentary panel has indicated “chronic underground funds” by Ministry of Food Processing For flagship schemes, even in Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) and PM formalization of the scheme of micro food processing (PMFME). He said this reflects inadequate planning and execution by the Ministry.
The panel headed by the former CM of Punjab and the leader of the Charanjit Singh Channi Congress has mentioned that in 2024-25 (until February 11), the Ministry has used only 1,020 million rupees against the revised estimate of RS 2,530 million rupees, which only 42%. The estimate of the budget at the beginning of the financial year was RS 3,052 million rupees.
The Report of the Permanent Agriculture Committee, Animal Cranía and Food Processing, in its latest report on the demand for subsidies for fiscal year 26, has also said that the past performance of the Ministry of Food Processing in terms of using funds in the two previous years was not satisfactory, since it could use only around 75% of the estimate of the budget reviewed downward.
“While occasional underutilization can be justifiable due to unforeseen circumstances, the chronic underutilization of funds reflects inappropriate planning and execution,” the report said.
Taking note of a greater assignment of RS 4,364 million rupees by 2025-26, which is the highest allocation, the panel said that the responsibility is now in the Ministry to create quality infrastructure, provide better opportunities for small and medium enterprises in the growing sector, and foster innovation and competitiveness in the food processing industry.
Regarding the underutilization of the funds in the current prosecutor, the panel has recommended that the ministry have an exhaustive review of the budgetary estimation process to guarantee the complete use of the funds assigned in the future.