Assam CM Tarun Gogoi seeks continuation of special category status for all NE states

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking continuation of special category status for Assam and other Northeastern states.

Gogoi has said in a letter that the Centre has changed the funding pattern of several welfare schemes, undermining the special category status of Northeastern states.

Referring to the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which Gogoi said are path-breaking, the chief minister wrote, “I would like to highlight some issues, as this increased devolution may not benefit all the states in a similar manner and to the extent that is envisaged.”

He said that the commission’s recommendations have had an impact on the Union Budget for 2015-16, adding that there has been a considerable reduction in the overall central allocation for important flagship programmes like the RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana), NFSM ( National Food Security Mission), ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) and Flood Management Programme, among others.

Gogoi said that the budget has also proposed a change in the funding pattern of many centrally sponsored schemes. The states have been advised to increase their share in these important schemes in case they wish to maintain expenditure at the same or higher level depending on their priorities, he said.

“Some schemes like National e-Governance Action Plan, National Scheme for Modernisation of Police and Other Forces, Backward Region Grant Fund as well as many block grants like the Special Plan Assistance etc have been delinked from Union support. For continuing projects under these schemes, the states will have to make direct allocation from their own resources, thus leaving very little for any new schemes or priorities,” the chief minister wrote to the PM.