Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh met Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Sunday in the national Capital and emphasised on the release of Special Plan Assistance to the State. The Chief Minister also raised the issue of special assistance for reconstruction under disaster mitigation programme like Uttarakhand for reconstruction of roads, health institutions, water supply, irrigation and reclamation of agricultural land etc., as Himachal has also suffered heavy losses estimated of Rs2,934 crore, due to untimely heavy rains during monsoon.
Raising his serious concern on the existence of different pattern of funding under various centrally sponsored schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal, Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, National Rural literacy Mission etc., Virbhadra Singh requested that all the centrally sponsored schemes be funded in the ratio of 90:10 to all the specially category States uniformly on the pattern of North-Eastern States.
Ahluwalia assured to extend all possible help and intervention particularly those pertaining to the developmental aspects of the State. He assured the Chief Minister to take up these matters with the Prime Minister and the ministries concerned.