Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 18: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that revised formula for allocation of resources to Jammu and Kashmir and other Hilly States was approved during the tenure of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and the same has led to unprecedented enhancement in the resource envelop of these States.
“The agenda to revisit the formula for allocation of resources to Hilly States of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand under NRHM was mooted by the Ministry of Health on my instance”, he claimed, adding “due to this not only parity has been achieved between the Hilly States and North Eastern States with regard to the allocation of resources under NRHM but an unprecedented enhancement was effected in the resource cap of these States”.
In pursuance of this decision, allocation for J&K witnessed a quantum jump to Rs 423 for the year 2013-14 as against the allocation of about Rs 270 crore worked out under old allocation formula, he said, adding the allocation for J&K in the financial year 2012-13 stood at Rs 213 crore only which increased up to Rs 423 crore for the financial year 2013-14.
“Since the decision was taken on the basis of sound logic and after fulfilling all procedural formalities and importantly, for all times to come, it is going to persist till the NRHM continues and J&K along with Himachal and Uttrakhand are going to be benefitted on a sustained basis”, Mr Azad said.
He hoped that all the ongoing hospital projects will receive sustained funding in the coming days and Jammu and Kashmir will utilise the available resources efficiently.
Another historic decision in favour of Hilly States including J&K during UPA regime was fixing of State share “Earlier, Hilly States of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were treated equivalent to general category States under the NRHM and State share in their case was 25% but we got the State share reduced to 10% thereby giving immense relief to these States”, he added.
While asserting that all his decisions as Union Health Ministry have been driven by merits keeping in view the interest of the entire State and not by partisan considerations, Azad said that people of the State, who are the best judges, will evaluate his work objectively and properly.
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