Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 28: Annual grants from the Centre to Jammu and Kashmir for the current financial year of 2017-18 have seen quantum jump from Rs 37,221 crores during current fiscal of 2016-17 to Rs 42,829 crores. The State would get handsome amount under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Prime Minister’s Development Plan and Security Related Expenditure etc in the upcoming financial year.
Official sources told the Excelsior that funds to Jammu and Kashmir by the Centre have also been raised for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in anticipation of elections to both urban and rural civic bodies.
Sources said Jammu and Kashmir will be getting Rs 8500 crores under the Prime Minister’s Development Plan during 2017-18 as against Rs 6000 crores in 2016-17, a massive increase of Rs 2500 crores. The total PMDP amount stood at Rs 80,080 crores but it has two components-Central and State sectors. Majority of the amount has been earmarked for Central sector in which major projects like National Highways, roads, power projects etc would be taken up for infrastructure development of the State.
The State allocations under the PMDP are meant for local projects and welfare measures.
Sources said the Centrally Sponsored Schemes would fetch a massive amount of Rs 10,000 crores to Jammu and Kashmir during next financial year, beginning April 1, as against Rs 8876 for current year, again a significant increase of Rs 1124 crores.
The funding to the State under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes has constantly been on increase for the past few years. The upcoming financial year of 2017-18 would, however, witness massive increase of Rs 1124 crores under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, which would lead to infrastructure development in the State.
The Security Related Expenditure (SRE), which forms important part of Central funding to militancy-infested border State, has been increased from Rs 780 crores during current fiscal to Rs 1384 crores for 2017-18, an increase of Rs 604 crores.
In view of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre reimburses majority of Security Related Expenditure of the State. The increase in SRE for upcoming financial year has also been necessitated due to increase in presence of security forces especially para-military personnel to control unrest in the Kashmir valley.
Jammu and Kashmir has been projected to get Rs 675 crores for Panchayati Raj Institutions during 2017-18 as against Rs 585 crores of 2016-17. The funding to Urban Local Bodies has also been enhanced to Rs 258 crores against Rs 225 crores of this fiscal. Sources pointed out that increase in the funding to the ULBs and PRIs has been done keeping in view the much anticipated elections to both the institutions this year.
The Share of Central Taxes for Jammu and Kashmir would go up to Rs 9711 crores during next financial year as against Rs 9500 of current fiscal while funding to the State under Revenue Deficit Grants have been pegged at Rs 11,849 crores as compared to Rs 10831 crores of 2016-17.
The Jammu and Kashmir grants under National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been increased from Rs 241 crores to Rs 253 crores.
Other Central Schemes would fetch the State an amount of Rs 199 crores as against Rs 183 crores, sources said.
According to sources, an overall increase of Rs 5608 crores to Jammu and Kashmir from Rs 37,221 crores of current financial year to Rs 42,829 crores for upcoming fiscal, was quite significant and would go long way in infrastructure development of the State.
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