Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Jan 18: Concerned over the lack of flexibility in Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), the State Government has urged the Union Government to restructure the assistance pattern for these schemes and make them more State friendly for better implementation.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR the Planning Department in consultation with office of Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey had recently sent a detailed letter to the Union Government recommending restructuring of CSS to enhance their flexibility and efficiency.
“The State Government has made nearly 100 scheme-specific suggestions based on feedback obtained from several Government Departments”, sources said adding, “we have tried to elaborate scheme-wise problems in their proper implementation in the State.”
Sources stated that the State had also emphasized on the need for uniform funding in the Central-State ratio of 90:10 for all Centrally sponsored schemes. “As of now the pattern of assistance under CSS varies from 100% to 90:10. However, in number of schemes the funding pattern isn’t as per Special Category Status and in certain schemes like SarvaShikshAbhiyan(SSA), the funding pattern is 65:35 and in Indra Awas Yojna (IAY) and Mid-day Meal, it is 75:25.”
“The letter has also urged the Central Government to take cognizance of the fact that greater flexibility is required for Jammu and Kashmir in view of geographical conditions, limited working season, level of economic development and gaps in physical infrastructure”, sources asserted.
While urging the Central Government to provide funding in all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes either 100% or 90:10 pattern, the State Government has also asked for release of full funding at the beginning of the year instead of the current instalment-wise pattern of funding. “In view of the geography and climatic conditions, the State doesn’t have a year-long working season and therefore, there is greater need for flexibility”.
It is pertinent to mention that after getting inputs from several States like Jammu and Kashmir over ‘malfunctioning’ of CSS, the Planning Commission had constituted a Sub-Committee for making suggestions to increase flexibility and efficiency of these schemes. The B K Chaturvedi Committee submitted its recommendations in 2011 and Centre further asked the respective States to provide their specific recommendations to overcome implementation problems.
Presently, the number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes has been reduced from 142 to 66 by merging of several erstwhile schemes. Even as for the current year, the existing schemes will continue, the merged schemes will come into focus from 2014-15.
Referring to the status of Border Area Development programme (BADP) – a 100% CSS aimed at providing balanced development of sensitive border areas, sources said, “the State Government had recently submitted all the Utilization Certification (UC) pertaining to these schemes. The State has also received nearly Rs 104 crores out of the total allocated amount of Rs 128 crores”, adding, “with the submission of UC in time, the remaining funds would also be released soon by the Planning Commission”.
“Last year also, the State had received funds to the tune of Rs 128 crores for the BADP scheme and the main objective of this programme is to meet special needs of the people living in remote, inaccessible areas situated near the border. Besides, the State also got additional funds worth nearly Rs 5.94 crores last year for being rated among the high-performing States for the implementation of BADP Scheme”, sources emphasized.
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