After extensive consultations with various central ministries,Planning Commission has decided to recommend a reduction in the number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) by almost two-thirds to 51 from the existing 147. Although the Plan panel is against winding up any of flagship programmes,yet agriculture and human resource development ministries are likely to see their schemes either trimmed down or merged in the 12th Plan period. In its present form,the Centre funds 75-90 per cent of the schemes,while the state government bears the remaining expenditure. However,the CSSs have been a cause of friction between the Centre and the states. Most states have made their displeasure clear by asking the Centre to restrict its role to providing funds while allowing them to implement state-specific programmes. On the demand of certain chief ministers,the Planning Commission had constituted a high-level committee under its member BK Chaturvedi,which had recently submitted its report. The report is understood to have been approved by the commission in its internal meeting Saturday evening. The commission will seek the endorsement of the National Development Council on the proposed CSS setup in its meeting on October 15,sources in the commission said. The Chaturvedi committee has recommended that the number of schemes in the farm sector should be reduced to nine from the existing 30,while key programmes like National Food Security Mission and National Horticulture Mission be retained. It has recommended the number of schemes in the animal husbandry and dairy department be reduced to three from 15. It proposed the number of CSSs in school education and literacy be reduced to four from the existing 17 programmes. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid-Day Meal Scheme could be retained as per the Plan panel. In a recent consultations with chief ministers,the commission was told that CSSs are increasing the burden on the states as every state has different geographies and separate needs. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi are reportedly in favour of ending the CSSs. The commission,in its Draft Approach paper,has also pitched for earmarking flexi-funds within the flagship programmes to allow central ministries to experiment in different areas. The paper,drafted after consultations with states,suggests improving the overall level of governance for better implementation of the CSSs and flagship schemes. Commission member Mihir Shah,who oversees the social sector,said,There is a need to overcome the universalisation without quality syndrome. The quality on outcome has not been attained as the implementation of different schemes have remained business-as-usual.
