Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav claimed that developmental process in the State set to face problems as in the budgetary provision for 2015-16, Centre had made a cut or withdrawn financial support of about Rs 18,257 crores. He said that under this exercise, the States are going to get no benefit but they would suffer a loss and it will also put extra burden on the States.
Yadav made above claims soon after he met his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who is the coordinator of NITI Ayog’s sub-group constituted for rationalisation of Centrally-sponsored schemes. Chief Minister visited Bhopal on Saturday to give his suggestions on rationalisation of the Centrally-sponsored schemes.
Talking of co-operative federalism, Akhilesh Yadav said that under the Core of core schemes, proper infrastructure facilities showed be forwarded like in Agriculture, Power, Human Resources, Health, Urban Development, Poverty eradication, rural development etc. He said that in the core sector, the Centre should made no cut in facilitation proper facilities to the States. He said that the changes made in various policies by the Centre with making any consideration with the State governments had put extra burden on the States to implement the plan.
Yadav said that in the 14th Finance Commission report, the devolution from Centre to state has been increased from 32 to 42 percent, but still giving undue importance to forest cover had resulted into loss to Uttar Pradesh. He said that as per an estimate, UP would at least suffer a loss of Rs 9000 crore just due to said decision of the Centre.
Chief minister said that in the 2015-16 budget, the change in centre’s share in Central sponsored schemes, and changes made in some other budgetary allocations, UP would suffer a loss of Rs 18,257 crore, which is much higher than the increase of Rs 7.584 crore made under Central devaluation.
He said that under the Core of Core Schemes, many other plans should be also included and to continue the provisions which are mentioned un the present Financial Support system. He said that due to above cut in budgetary allocation, whether it was schemes related to farmers, health, education etc, it would affect the development of the State adversely. He said that the Centre should not made any cut in the Core Schemes.
Yadav also advocated to maintain same budgetary allocations and Centre’s share in the schemes like National Agriculture Development Plan, Nirmal Bharat Plan, National Health Mission, Mid-Day Meal, Sarv-Siksha Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna, etc. He also sought aid for salaries for further two years for the Angadwadi Workers, Contract Teachers etc.
Showing his concern over delinking of some important schemes, Akhilesh Yadav, advocated to continue Centre’s help in police modernization, e-governance, and National E-Governance Action Plan (NeGAP) etc. He called to provide central assistant under RsBlock Grant’. He said that in the schemes in which budgetary allocations has been made after preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR), the State should be given power to prepare DPR.