Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 10: In a major jump, the Central Government is likely to give Jammu and Kashmir a huge amount of Rs 8876 crores under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes during current financial year of 2016-17, which was nearly 35 per cent more than what the State was projected to get during the last fiscal year of 2015-16. The amount under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes has witnessed more than 100 per cent jump during past just two years.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Government of India has fixed whopping amount of Rs 8876 crores for Jammu and Kashmir during current fiscal year of 2016-17 for various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, majority of which included the developmental schemes while some others pertained to welfare measures in Education, Social Welfare sectors etc.
“As compared to 2014-15, the amount projected under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed more than 100 per cent jump while in response to last financial year of 2015-16, the Central Schemes have recorded nearly 35 per cent increase, which indicated the Government of India’s generosity towards Jammu and Kashmir in developmental and other works,’’ sources pointed out.
During 2014-15, Jammu and Kashmir had been allocated Rs 4000 crores under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes while the amount had gone up to Rs 6200 crores in 2015-16. In 2016-17, it was projected at Rs 8876 crores, which means that the State would get more than double the amount this year than what it got in 2014-15.
A number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes cover the developmental related works while there are some other schemes, which were meant for welfare measures of school going children, widow and age-old pensions and some other schemes to uplift the economically backward people.
With Jammu and Kashmir having been categorized as “special category State’’ along with some North Eastern and other States, it continued to get funds under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes under 90:10 ratio as against 70:30 and 75:25 ratio fixed for some developed States. This means that Jammu and Kashmir will continue to get 90 per cent funds under the Government of India under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes while contributing its 10 per cent share as against 25 or 30 per cent contributed by other States.
Admitting that Rs 8876 crores projected under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes by the Government of India was a whopping amount, sources said it would go a long way in executing various developmental related works in the Central sector and spend more on the welfare schemes.
According to sources, some of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes have been identified by the State Government for executing works in the State while some new schemes would be identified by the Departments and then approved by the Cabinet for execution.
The amount under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes is released by the Government of India after different departments of the State Government prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and forward them to the concerned Ministries for undertaking the projects, sources pointed out.
“The categorization of Jammu and Kashmir as “Special Category State’’ has helped Jammu and Kashmir a lot in getting more funds from the Centre as it had to keep minimum share from its own kitty for the projects,’’ they said.
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