Social schemes suffer body blow over tardy progress by Shivraj Chouhan sub-panel

14th Finance Commission wants 30 centrally-sponsored schemes to be delinked from support of the govt as states get more through untied funds

The pending decision on sharing of resources between the Centre and the states on centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) by the sub-group of chief ministers has led to a number of Union government ministries facing a cash crunch. Even, the finance ministry refused to release funds to them for the said schemes till the issue is resolved.

Following the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley delinked eight CSS from central support, and partially delinked 24 that would be run with shared central and state funding. Some 31 CSS will be run wholly under the central government.

The government constituted a sub-group of chief ministers, led by Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to come up with an acceptable resource sharing pattern on the 24 CSS. The sub-group also had the prerogative to discuss the eight delinked schemes. It was originally expected to submit its recommendations in June. There were a number of suggestions, including reducing the total number of CSS to 30. But a mutually satisfactory sharing pattern has not been decided upon yet. The sub-group has now been given time till end-August to come up with a formula.

Some of the schemes which will now be jointly supported by states and the central government include Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Livestock Mission, Veterinary Services & Animal Health, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, and rural housing, amongst others.
FAIR SHARE

• 14th Finance Commission wants 30 centrally-sponsored schemes to be delinked from the support of the government as states get more through untied funds
• However, the finance ministry delinks eight schemes
• 31 schemes fully funded by Centre
• There are now 24 schemes which run with the changed sharing pattern
• The Shivraj Singh Chouhan sub-panel wants Centre to bear more burden on these schemes
• Yet to submit final recommendations on sharing of burden between Centre and states