Chief Minister Raghubar Das, while participating a meeting of Niti Aayog, opposed the uniform funding pattern related to the 24 Centrally-sponsored schemes. Speaking in the meeting on Monday, the CM advocated for different system to be adopted for financially-backward States like Jharkhand. “Amendment in the share pattern between the Centre and State in relation to 24 schemes is proposed. I suggest that adopting a uniform funding pattern to all the States would not be in the interest of backward States. It has been a practice to have special provisions for the States where people living below poverty line are more in number. For the States like Jharkhand, it would be right to keep the ratio at 75:25,” said the CM.
The meeting was called to redefine the funding pattern for Centrally-sponsored schemes as the Centre under the new dispensation wants to relook its share. A high-level sub-committee of the Niti Aayog headed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has been formed to fix the share. Das further pressed that the schemes relating directly to education, malnutrition, health and other aspects of human development or of national priority like Clean India mission etc should be funded at least 75 per cent by the Centre. lower share would hit the poor States severely, opined the CM.
This apart, the CM also underlined the importance of continuous release of funds related to human development so that works on these fronts can run without any hindrance. "50 per cent share of the Centre should be released at the start of the year itself. We have made such provision for scheme run on the State's share. Second installment should be released in October without keeping any condition like utilisation certificate," said the CM.
The CM said that in the meeting that eight schemes had been delinked from Central assistance which are vital in the Naxal-affected areas such as BRGF. "The scheme is running in 23 out of 24 districts of the State and its continuation is obligatory to us. Similarly, police modernisation and national e-governance plan would put additional pressure of Rs 850 crore annually on the State exchequer. The first option should be to continue these schemes like before or have special provision for the States like Jharkhand," said the CM.
He said that the idea of cooperative federalism, mooted by the Prime Minister, can be adopted for later period and limited to Centrally-run schemes while States can be given power to fix priorities in the second sector schemes. The CM thanked enhancing 10 per cent share of the State in the Central taxes. Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Finance Secretary Amit Khare, Principal Secretary to CM Sanjay Kumar and other senior officials were present.