Rejig of central government schemes soon

By Yogima Seth Sharma

NEW DELHI: The much- awaited restructuring of the central government schemes is expected to kick off soon with the union cabinet likely to take it up this week.

Once approved by the Cabinet, all ministries will be expected to implement the recast of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ( CSS) that intend to give more autonomy to states apart reducing the number of such schemes.

Sectors which will benefit the most from the proposed reform include health, education, urban development, skill development and rural infrastructure.

"Cabinet will consider restructuring of centrally-sponsored schemes, proposed by the Planning Commission, this week. We are hopeful of getting a go-ahead from the Cabinet," BK Chaturvedi, member, Planning Commission told ET.

According to Chaturvedi, the key issues that are expected to get Cabinet clearance include reducing the number of such schemes, giving more flexibility to states to set up their own norms for the schemes, setting up of standard monitoring mechanism within the Planning Commission and transferring funds through state budgets.

The number of centrally sponsored schemes had risen to 147 in 2011-12 from 99 in 2007-08, creating overlaps and thin spread of government resources.