PTI
GUWAHATI, AUGUST 12
Assam government on Wednesday said there has been no communication from the Centre regarding scrapping of ‘Special Category Status’ of the state but the funding pattern was changed for many schemes.
In a written reply to a query from Asom Gana Parishad MLA Phani Bhusan Choudhury, Planning and Development Minister Ajanta Neog said the Centre has not formally informed the state of doing away with ‘Special Category Status’.“But analysing the allocations in the 14th Finance Commission report and the Union Budget, it can be seen that Assam will not get the benefits received earlier as Special Category state,” she added.
Neog also informed the House that the Centre has altered the funding pattern in at least nine schemes from 90:10 from this fiscal to mostly 50:50 ratio.
She further said there has been “no clear direction” from the Niti Aayog regarding the Plan allocation after dissolving the Planning Commission.
Despite that, the state government has earmarked a tentative expenditure of Rs 25,406 crore under the Plan segment for 2015-16 on the basis of earlier Central grants and state resources, the Minister said. Neog said the Centre had allocated Rs 18,000 crore in last financial year, of which it has released only Rs 12,462. 34 crore. “Moreover, the allocation of 2014-15 was received almost after five months of the fiscal year on September 4, 2014,” she added.
Regarding another question by All India United Democratic Front MLA Ali Hossain, Neog said Assam has been allocated a total of Rs 57,799.68 crore by the Union government under the Plan segment in five years since 2010-11.
The Centre allocated Rs 7,799.68 crore in 2010-11 and it went up to Rs 9,000 crore in the next fiscal.
The state was allocated Rs 10,500 crore, Rs 12,500 crore and Rs 18,000 crore in FY’13, FY’14 and FY’15 respectively.
