The Planning Commission is mulling on a policy to address the concern of the states demanding special category tag.
“We are working out a policy in which we will be taking care of some of the concerns of states (demanding special category status) and increase investments under the policy of Backward Region Grant Fund,” said B K Chaturvedi, member, Planning Commission.
He said, special category status is demanded by a number of states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. The matter was discussed recently at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting.
It may be noted that chief minister Naveen Patnaik has reiterated the demand for special category state tag for Odisha at the NDC meeting held in New Delhi earlier this week which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The state government, at regular intervals, has been raising the demand before the Centre for granting it special category status over the last few decades.
Odisha satisfies all criteria of a Special Category state except having an international boundary.
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Having a special category status entitles a state to get special financial package from Centre for upliftment of several sectors including industries.
Patnaik, in January last year, had submitted a memorandum to this effect to Singh during the latter’s recent visit to the state to inaugurate the 99th Indian Science Congress.