ProMASS News
Agartala, June 21, 2019: In the run-up to Union Budget on July 5, Tripura Government aptly pointed out priority areas and demanded increased allocation for Autonomous Tribal area as well as cent percent funding – presently States shoulder 10 percent of total fund – by the Union Government for Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in Northeastern region.
Attending a Pre-Budget meeting – chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today in New Delhi – deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, also the State Finance Minister Jishnu Dev Varma spelt out wish-list and also suggested some measure eyeing on improved connectivity and fund flows.
Speaking in the pre-Budget meeting Dev Varman hailed Modi-led Government’s Act Policy. Referring to PM Modi’s Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas vision, he demanded augmented fund allocation for Autonomous District Councils.
The Deputy CM said, “Majority of Tribal communities resides in North Eastern states and most of them are below poverty line. Beside, infrastructure facilities are also poor in the Tribal areas”. In such a situation, “the allocation to Tribal Areas Autonomous District Councils is needed to be increased for an inclusive growth of the country”.
He also urged the Centre to make budgetary proposal for 10 percent allocation of fund to North Eastern states from Central Outlay, which may be mobilized as a part of 10 percent Gross Budgetary Support of Non-Exempted Ministries of Government of India.
Pointing out that there is limited scope for NE states to raise adequate resources; it has seriously affected infrastructure development and thereby also affecting service to the citizens as compared to other bigger states, he said, “It is very difficult to manage state share against CSS schemes. For smooth implementation of CSS schemes, it is requested to mobilize 100 percent fund for CSS schemes for the NE States, instead of existing 90:10 ratio,”
The Deputy Chief Minister also requested the Central Government to give special grant for the maintenance of roads created under PMGSY.
Charting out development strategy, Jishnu Dev Varman emphasized on connectivity and focused on connecting North East with Trans-Asian Rail connectivity. The rail links with South Asian Countries will throw new opportunities and avenues for accelerated growth in NE Region.
He said, “The plan, if implemented, will boost trade, commerce and tourism. I would like to urge the Union Government to take up 257-km long rail connectivity from Jawaharnagar (Tripura) to Darlown (Mizoram) to Kalay in Mayanmar to promote business trade, culture, regional integration and prosperity”.
Saying that the confidence in the Indian Economy has improved under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, The economic reforms included push to infrastructure development, outreach program for the MSMEs, enhanced minimum support prices for KHARIF and RABI crops and further measure to improve the ‘ease of doing business’.
While conveying special thanks to the Central Government for its effective initiatives on infrastructure development, he said, “the guidelines of North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, which is solely borne (100 percent) by the Union Government, should be made flexible to fund all development projects.”
In another note, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “considering the special constraints faced by the NE states, Special Central Funds such as Special Central Assistance and Special Plan Assistance flowing through the erstwhile Planning Commission needs to be revived by the NITI Aayog.”
