Budget 2024: Who are 'Annadatas', what is the 'Annadata' scheme?

In brief, the 'Annadata' scheme is an umbrella scheme aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce.

In her record sixth Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the Annadata scheme through which the minimum support prices (MSP) for farmers have increased periodically and appropriately.

The term Annadata, which roughly translates to farmer, is part of the government's ambition to boost the community, who are integral part of Indian economy.

The Annadata scheme is an umbrella scheme initiated by the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, aimed at ensuring remunerative prices forfarmers for their produce.

Sitharaman, who was presenting an Interim Budget as the country is heading for Lok Sabha elections, highlighted the fact that the NDA government's priority was to boost farmers' income while ensuring food security and empowering and strengthening the women of India.

The scheme will ensure that poor, women, youth, and farmers' will be part of government's priority areas.

While presenting the interim budget for 2024-25, Sitharaman highlighted the fact that the government was working with an approach to ensure development that is all-round, all-pervasive and all-inclusive.

The three salient features of the scheme include enhancing agricultural productivity, reducing cost of cultivation — which will enable boosting, and securing farmers' income in the long run.

There is a need to focus on "four major castes" — "garib" (the poor), "mahilayen" (women), "yuva" (the youth) and "annadata" (the farmer),

Sitharaman asserted that their needs, aspirations, and welfare are "our highest priority."

"The country progresses when they progress. All four require and receive the government's support in their quest for better their lives. Their empowerment and wellbeing will drive the country forward," the Finance Minister added in what was her sixth budget in a row.

As per the government's calculation, the scheme is expected to complement the increase in MSP which will translate to farmers' income by way of robust procurement mechanism in co-ordination with the states.