*Mufti for permanent forum to discuss eco development
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 12: Group of Chief Ministers constituted by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has recommended several modifications in the process of implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes to enable the Special Category States including Jammu and Kashmir to efficiently implement them according to local requirements and conditions for better results on the ground and steer these States towards achieving the goals of Vision 2022.
With the acceptance of these recommendations of the Group of Chief Ministers by National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog headed by the Prime Minister in near future, Jammu and Kashmir would enjoy enough flexibility in implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes and topography and the climatic conditions would not create any major impediment.
According to the report of the Sub-Group of the Chief Ministers on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, major recommendations/points raised by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in series of the meetings have been given due weightage.
The foremost demand of the J&K regarding 90:10 funding pattern for the core schemes has been endorsed and recommended by the Sub-Group of the Chief Ministers to the NITI Aayog with the mention that investment levels in core schemes should be maintained so as to ensure that the optimum size of the programme doesn’t shrink.
Referring to the point raised by the J&K Chief Minister that J&K has limited working season and funds should be provided by keeping this aspect in view besides local conditions should be factored in the guidelines of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the Sub-Group has recommended that release of funds should be simplified based on yearly authorization and actual release of cash should be on quarterly basis.
Moreover, keeping in view the fact that cost of delivery of services is very high in Jammu and Kashmir and other Himalayan States due to high cost of material, construction and transportation, the Group has recommended to the NITI Aayog that cost norms in construction component of the schemes should be decided by the States subject to capping of allocation by the Centre.
About the flexibility aspect raised by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the Sub-Group has suggested flexibility in schemes and institutional mechanism. “Twenty five per cent allocation in a scheme should be flexi-fund and design of Centrally Sponsored Schemes should be with large number of admissible components in a scheme and the States being free to choose components to suit their local needs”, the report said.
About incomplete projects, the Sub-Group has recommended that all works begun in projects in existence in 2014-15 in which work has been awarded till March 31, 2015 funding should be on the existing pattern for the next two years.
According to the report, J&K Chief Minister has stressed that Centrally Sponsored Schemes should not be seen as standalone subject and it should be seen as a subject of integral federal system. He has also opined that there should be a permanent forum where States could frequently meet and discuss the issues relevant for economic development of the State as unlike General Category States hilly State of Jammu and Kashmir is lagging behind in attracting private investment due to topography and climatic conditions.
About monitoring and evaluation of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has suggested robust outcome based monitoring and evaluation of schemes. “Since the expenditure based monitoring is not able to highlight the impact of the scheme, the outcome based monitoring and evaluation mechanism is a welcome step as this will enable us to work out/measure the impact created by a scheme on the socio-economic life of the individuals”, the Chief Minister has stressed.
It is pertinent to mention here that a total of 56 Centrally Sponsored Schemes are operating in Jammu and Kashmir and Central releases in all these schemes during the period between 2012-13 and 2014-15 were to the tune of Rs 12232 crore. Similarly, Block Grants to the tune of Rs 27699 crore were released to J&K during first three years of the 12th Plan (2012-13 to 2014-15). With this, total Central releases in all these 56 Centrally Sponsored Schemes were to the tune of Rs 39931 crore.
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