State to get 90 per cent funding for Central plans

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 22

The report of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, constituted by the Niti Ayog, has enlisted Himachal as a special category state, making it eligible to obtain as much as 90 per cent funding for various schemes falling under the National Development Agenda.

According to a letter (dated October 28, 2015) received from the Ministry of Finance, a copy of which was with The Tribune, Himachal was among three Himalayan states and eight Northeastern states for which funding pattern of 90:10 had been finalised. The remaining states will have to bear 40 per cent financial cost of such Central schemes, making Niti Ayog a blessing for the state.

The state government will have to barely pool in 10 per cent share in various Central schemes such as the Krishi Unnati Yojna, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sanchai Yojna, the Rasthtriya Pashudhan VikasYojna, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, the National Health Mission, the National Education Mission, the Integrated Child Development Services, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, the Mid-day Meal Programme, Housing for All, the National Livelihood Mission, Forestry and Wildlife, Urban Rejuvenation, Modernisation of Police Forces and Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary.

Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal while terming it as a big relief to the state said the Narendra Modi-led NDA government had extended the maximum financial benefits to the state, but it was unfortunate that the state government had failed to even appreciate this gesture. He said they would bring out a special thanksgiving resolution in favour of the NDA government in the next Vidhan Sabha session.

He said even the share of devolution of Central taxes to the state had been enhanced to as much as 42 per cent, which would bring in additional financial resources to the state. He lamented that the Congress government on the contrary had been asserting that the BJP government at the Centre was not extending due financial assistance to the state which was not true and grant of special category status was in itself an indication of their liberal gesture.