Widen Scope Of Schemes Such As Mid Day Meal And Employment Programmes: PHD Chamber

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday advocated the need for further development and efficient implementation of social entitlement schemes such as mid day meal and employment programmes as these have positive impact on lives of socially and economically deprived section of the society.

In a statement issued here today on the eve of the World Food Day, the President of the PHD Chamber Mr. Alok B. Shriram said, agricultural policies and programmes in India can play a pivotal role in sustainable and inclusive growth by stimulating farm output, income and overall household welfare leading to socially secure system.

In Indian context, broad coverage and widening scope of social schemes such as mid day meal and national rural employment guarantee programme would have positive impact on the lives of challenged strata of the society and urged the policy makers to take note of the Chamber's advocacy in this connection, he added.

There is in fact a deep relationship between social protection and agriculture as rural households that mostly rely on agriculture for their livelihoods are often affected by limited access to resources, low agricultural productivity and poorly functioning markets. A significant growth in the rural economy could be brought through effective implementation of agricultural policies. Agriculture, therefore, needs its due importance for the overall development of the society.

It also holds that social protection can help to alleviate credit, savings and liquidity constraints by providing cash and in-kind support. In addition, the regularity and predictability of social protection instruments help households to better manage risks and to engage in more profitable livelihood and agricultural activities.

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