Volume 2 of the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament on Friday, has recommended several reform measures to boost agriculture, industry, infrastructure, education, and health.
These include strengthening the marketing infrastructure to control price risks in the agriculture and allied sectors, increasing the irrigated area to address production risks, the exploration of non-fare revenue sources by the Indian Railways, the development of non-major ports, and the privatisation of Air India.
“The education policies need to be designed with focus on learning outcomes and remedial education with interventions which work and maximise the efficiency of expenditure,” the Survey said. “There is a need for biometric attendance of school staff, independent setting of examination papers, neutral examination and for DBT for schools. There is need to adopt outcome measures for the education and skilling activities to ensure improvement in delivery of schemes/ programmes.”
“There has to be concerted efforts by the Central and State governments to reform the health sector, by addressing quality issues, standardising rates for diagnostic tests, generating awareness about alternative health systems and introduction of punitive measures like fines on hospitals and private health providers for false claims through surgery, medicines etc,” the Survey added. “For more equitable access to health services, government should provide health benefits and risk cover to poorer sections of the society.”
In the agriculture sector, the Survey also recommended that standards be set for better quality, pest and disease-resistant seeds.
“Trade and domestic policy changes should be announced well before sowing and should stay till arrivals and procurement is over,” the Survey said. “To enhance women’s involvement in the dairy projects, funds should be earmarked through appropriate mechanisms.”
Providing timely and affordable formal and institutional credit to the small and marginal farmers is the key to inclusive growth, the Survey noted.
“Railways should go for more non-fare sources along with station redevelopment and commercially exploiting vacant buildings at the station, monetising land along tracks by leasing out to promote horticulture and tree plantation, and through advertisement and parcel earnings,” it said.
“It is required to develop non-major port and also enhance their efficiency and operational capacity,” the new volume added. “Reforms such as privatisation/disinvestment of Air India, creation of aviation hubs and reconsidering the 0/20 rule are some suggestions to improve Indian airlines’ share in the international market.”
