Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 13: Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khanday, today emphasized the need for uniform funding in the Central-State ratio of 90:10 for all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. He said J&K is a Special Category State, the pattern of assistance under CCS ought to vary from 100% to 90:10, however, in certain schemes like SSA the funding pattern is 65:35, in IAY and Mid-Day-Meal, it is 75:25 besides there are number of other schemes where the funding pattern is not as per Special Category State Status.
Chairing a high level meeting to review the departmental recommendations for change in CCS guidelines to the Union Government on restructuring of Centrally Sponsored Schemes so as to make them State friendly, Chief Secretary said that Jammu and Kashmir along with other Special Category States have been raising concerns about the lack of flexibility in CCS Schemes and adverse implications of counterpart funding requirements of CSS on State finances.
Chief Secretary said, flexibility is required in case of Jammu and Kashmir to take cognizance of it’s geographic conditions, limited working season, level of economic development and nature of gaps in physical infrastructure. He said we have all along been asking the Union Government to provide funding in all Centrally Sponsored Schemes either 100% or in 90:10 pattern.
He said that we have also recommended release of full funding at the beginning of the year instead of the current installment-wise pattern of funding. He said the State’s geography and climate does not permit us to have a year-long working season, as such, we have requested the Union Government to take cognizance of the fact and show flexibility.
To address the concerns of the State Governments Planning Commission had constituted a sub-committee for suggesting restructuring of CSS to enhance flexibility and efficiency. Following the recommendations of B.K.Chaturvedi Committee, the Union Government has asked the States to provide their specific recommendations to improve results on ground and overcome implementation problems.
As the number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes has been reduced from 142 to 66 by merging several erstwhile schemes, the merged schemes will come into force from 2014-15. Meanwhile, for the current year the existing schemes will continue.
In J&K as many as 20 departments are implementing Centrally Sponsored Schemes and these have suggested over 90 modifications/recommendations for change in CCS guidelines to make them State friendly and to overcome implementation problems.
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