CMs' panel for less of central schemes

Will finalise recommendation next month, might also suggest changes in funding patterns

The panel of chief ministers on rationalising of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) has decided to lower their number from the existing 72.

"We will hold another meeting of the sub-group on May 28 at Bhopal to finalise the draft recommendations. The panel is unanimous that the number of CSS be reduced," said Madhya Pradesh's Shivraj Singh Chouhan. "We should continue only the very important and relevant CSS."

 He is convenor of this panel, which met here on Monday. This is one of three sub-groups of CMs formed after the first meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog, the body which succeeded the Planning Commission. The two other sub-groups are on skill development and on the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

At Monday's meet on CSS, officials said there was also a demand from many states that the amount of block grants, a form of untied funds, and central assistance to state plans be enhanced. Another issue was on the pattern of fund sharing in CSS between Centre and states -- 90:10, 50:50, 25:75, etc.

During the Congress-led regime, the number of CSS were reduced from 147 to 66. At present, there are 72; the present government had introduced six more in its 11 months in power.

The Centre had recently agreed to raise states' share of tax proceeds to 42 per cent from the earlier 32 per cent. At its first meeting last month, the panel had set up a  group under Sindhishree Khullar, chief executive officer of NITI Aayog, with nodal officers from all the states, to prepare a discussion paper. On Monday, the panel discussed the issues raised in this paper.

Chouhan said, "It was decided that the funding pattern should not be more than two or three. It was also discussed that the funds under CSS should be released in April. These should be released twice in a year, without any delay."

The panel also supported the idea that there be incentives for performing states and that their innovative ideas should be promoted.

Chouhan said: "I will write letters to all CMs to incorporate views of those who are not members of this sub-group. We have also decided to send a team of NITI Aayog officials, headed by the Aayog CEO, to discuss CSS-related issues with the different regions."

The sub-group on CSS has CMs of 11 states. Among these are CMs of Rajasthan, Nagaland, Manipur, Jharkhand, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. At the meet, Manipur's O Ibobi Singh said termination of 'special category' states would be a big blow to the interest of those states, long suffering from backwardness. The northeast states are included in this.

"This move cannot be accepted. The financial facilities used to be availed by all these states must be continued as per the past practice," he said.