Don’t change Assam’s central funding pattern, state assembly tells Delhi

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rakibul Hussain, while moving the resolution, stated that the Centre had of late changed the funding pattern in respect of five specific schemes instead of the 90:10 ratio. In the Command Areas Development scheme the ratio has been fixed at 50:50, in Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan at 70:30, in Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashastrikaran Yojana at 75:25, in National Mission on Agriculture Extension and Technology at 75: 25) and in Assistance to State for Infrastructure Development for Exports at 80:20, he said.

“The state expresses deep concern at the above departure from the entitled Special Category status and requests the Central Government to ensure that the pattern of funding shall be either 100 per cent central share or on the principle of 90:10,” the official statement read out by the parliamentary affairs minister on the floor of the House stated.

While members of different parties cutting across party lines supported the move made by the state government, a resolution later adopted by the state assembly said, “The state government of Assam shall move the concerned authority in the government of India to continue the Special Category State status for Assam so as to ensure that the pattern of funding of centrally assistance to Assam shall be either 100 per cent central share or in the principle of 90:10.”

The BJP members, while supporting the move however insisted on inserting a line in the resolution that the state government shall ensure proper utilization of funds received from the Centre. Speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi however dismissed the plea by saying that it was not necessary to mention that in the resolution pertaining to continuation of Special Category State status to Assam. The issue of proper utilization of funds could be addressed separately, he said.