Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, July 20: Despite change of guard at the Centre, the State Government is confident that Narendra Modi-led regime would do justice with the border State and give hike to the annual plan for 2014-15 in comparison with last year’s plan.
Though State Government has projected plan outlay of Rs 11,900 crores comprising budget for plan, Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), top hierarchy of the Finance Department expected a better deal from the Central Government.
Exuding confidence of hike in the plan outlay, Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather told EXCELSIOR, “we are sure to get hike in annual plan for this financial year to cater to the requirements of the State. Though we have projected Rs 7300 crores worth annual plan for 2014-15, Rs 600 crores under PMRP and Rs 4000 crores under CSS, the Central Government needs to increase the allocation to give push to the developmental activities in the State”.
However, he elaborated further, “like other States of the country, we shall also have to wait till the plan outlay is finalised by the Union Government. Presently, there is no Planning Commission in place and we shall have to wait till Centre decides over the matterand some progress is likely to be made after culmination of the budget session”.
The Central Government was likely to take up approval of annual plans and Centrally Sponsored Schemes of various States only after annual budget of the country is approved by Parliament. As budget session of Parliament is scheduled to last till August14, unless extended, the Government of India would take up annual plan of State after that.
Asked if the developmental activities were taking a hit due to ambiguity surrounding the plan finalisation process, the Finance Minister remarked, “though it definitely affects the functioning of the Government, we have taken several measures to streamline the process. The State Government has authorized all the District Development Commissioners (DDCs) for 50 per cent expenditure of plan in both plan and non-plan category till the district plan was approved in DDB meetings, pending final approval of the annual plan”, adding, “the developmental activities also suffer as Jammu and Kashmir State has a limited working season”.
It is pertinent to mention here that the State had been reeling under major financial crunch due to massive delay in approval of its annual plan for the current financial year of 2014-15 with own resources of the State exhausting, leading to suffering of developmental works, cash crunchin treasuries and delay in holding of District Development Board (DDB) meetings, which had to approve plan of the districts.
To a pointed query regarding the demand for Dearness Allowance (DA) by the employees, Mr Rather said, “despite the on-going financial crunch, we are committed to hike DA from 90 to 100 per cent for our 4.5 lac employees. The Government would put its seal of approval on the proposal regarding release of DA instalments at the rate of 10% of pay raising the total DA to the State Government employees from 90% to 100 % soon”.
Top official sources also corroborated that the announcement pertaining to rise in DA is likely to be made by the State Government, shortly after the Eid festival.
Referring to other demands of employees, he said, “the Government would also provide the fourth instalment of the 6th Pay Commission worth Rs 850 crores, before the year concludes”. As per the road map prepared by the Government, the employees are being paid 20 per cent of the arrears of 6th Pay Commission annually to the employees. The State Government has already provided three instalments and the final one is scheduled for next year.
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