Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday said the 14th Finance Commission should relook at the formula under which the allocation of funds to the States declined with their increasing per capita income.
Stating that allocation of funds should be more judicious, he sought special grant to Haryana for creation and up-gradation of infrastructure in the NCR area.
“By reducing allocation on account of higher average per capita income of the State, a vast majority of deserving population has been put to a great disadvantage”, Hooda said while initiating discussion with members of the Finance Commission.
The principle evolved by the Finance Commission for allocation of funds needs to be looked at afresh, he said.
Hooda urged the Finance Commission to take note of all factors and allocate resources between the Union and the States in a “judicious manner” while taking into account the onerous responsibilities of public welfare assigned to the States.
On Haryana, he said though the State has one of the highest per capita income in the country, 60 per cent of the population continues to be dependent upon agriculture and allied activities. “Their per capita income has not grown as much,” he said.
YV Reddy, Chairman, of the 14th Finance Commission, was accompanied by its members Abhijit Sen, Sushma Nath, M Govinda Rao and Sudipto Mundle besides Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha and other officers of the Commission.
Hooda flays Punjab for renaming Mullanpur as New Chandigarh
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday criticised Punjab for naming Mullanpur as “New Chandigarh” saying Chandigarh itself being a “brand name” should not be impersonated.
He questioned, why Mullanpur should not retain its original name adding that when Haryana developed Panchkula, it did not change its name. Similar would be the case of Pinjore and Kalka, if these are further developed as their names would not be changed. He said that the land of Mullanpur belongs to its residents. Hooda said that it would not be ethical to have a “New Chandigarh”.
The Chief Minister said that today Gurgaon is known all over the world and it would not be appropriate to refer it as Modern Delhi. He also cited the example of Chandigarh Airport saying that Punjab had wanted to name it as Mohali Airport, but it has been retained as Chandigarh Airport.
When his attention was drawn towards the reports of some children falling sick after consuming the iron folic acid tablets, Hooda said that these tablets do not suit to some children. This, he said, was a national programme to check the anaemia among children.
Asked about the allegations levelled by Opposition that notices have been sent to some farmers for recovery of loans, Hooda said that the banks would send notices to get back their loans, but his Government had decided that neither the land of such farmers would be auctioned nor would they be put behind the bars. There are other ways to make recovery, he added.