Rs 8607.61crore Allocated to Jharkhand for 61 CSSs in Last 2 Years

Ranchi, 25 July 2014: There are total 66 Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) that are in operation in the country, out of which 61 schemes are under implementation in the State of Jharkhand. During fin yr 2012-13 and 2013-14, Jharkhand has been allocated a fund of Rs 8607.61 crore. Planning and Statistics & Programme Implementation Minister of State (Independent Charge) Shree Rao Inderjit Singh stated this detail on a question raised by MP Shree Parimal Nathwani. The review of the CSS statistics given by the Minister also revealed that the adjacent states Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand have received Rs 31509.59cr, Rs 12589.45cr, Rs 26459.72cr and Rs 3969.41cr respectively.

Rajya Sabha MP Shree Nathwani had also expressed his desire to know the criteria of CSS fund allocation to the states and the steps taken to ensure proper utilization of the fund. Replying to Shree Nathwani the Minister Shree Singh stated that the criteria for allocation of funds under Centrally Sponsored Schemes to individual States are finalized by the concerned Ministry in accordance with the resource availability and the guidelines of the concerned CSS. The State Government implements the CSS in accordance with these guidelines. The releases of funds to the States are made by the administrative Ministries /Departments concerned based on various factors including proposals by State Governments, performance in utilization of funds earlier released and adherence to the guidelines. The State governments are also required to provide the respective state’s share of CSS.

To ensure that funds released for Centrally Sponsored Schemes are utilized properly, Government has taken various steps like (i) to keep 10% of the outlay of each CSS as flexi funds by the Central Ministries to provide flexibility to the States to meet local needs and requirements within the overall objective of each programme or scheme, to pilot innovations and improve efficiency within the overall objectives of the scheme and to undertake mitigation /restoration activities in case of natural calamities in the sector covered by the CSS (ii) formulating state specific guidelines for each CSS and (iii) to place the funds for all CSS/ACA schemes with the Administrative Ministries and transfer CSS/ACA funds to the States through the Consolidated Fund of the States concerned, the Minister added.