The 'NITI Aayog Committee' on funding pattern of central schemes will submit its report within a month, Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said today.
"NITI Aayog had formed a committee about a month back to decide on the ratio of central and state funding on the schemes. The committee is expected to submit its report in a month's time," Singh told reporters in a press conference here.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is Convenor of the sub-group of Chief Ministers on Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).
"As different states have different ways to generate revenues and the quantum varies, there cannot be a fixed funding pattern for all the states. The committee will examine all the aspects and will suggest some re-adjustments in the funding pattern," the Minister said.
The rationalisation of CSS is important as Centre has decided to raise states' share in taxes to 42 per cent from 32 per cent, he added.
Singh said the report will include its suggestions on the funding pattern to Northeastern states, including Assam, that used to receive 90 per cent of the expenditure from Centre.
At present, there are 72 CSS, including six new schemes introduced by the NDA government.
During the UPA regime, the number of CSS were reduced from 147 to 66.
Singh said 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana' is the best CSS and has become the most successful scheme.
"Regarding the MGNREGA scheme, I must accept that it has allowed the poorest of the poor in a village to have a Rs 500 note," he added.
The Minister informed that Assam has been appreciated in the social audit on implementation of the scheme.
Talking about Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), Singh said 86 per cent of the Members of Parliament have identified 679 gram panchayats for developing them as model villages.
In North-East, all the 40 MPs have identified their target villages.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has chosen Paschim Bekeli in Boko area under Kamrup district for developing it as a model village, the minister said.
Singh further informed his Ministry yesterday decided to release the entire Rs 2,600 crore budgetary allocation for rural drinking water at one go to the states.
