Committee to consider states' proposals for centrally sponsored schemes: Minister

NEW DELHI: Government has formed an inter-ministerial committee to consider proposals from states for effective implementation of centrally sponsored schemes ( CSS), Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

"... in order to enhance recommendations from concerned states regarding any CSS, the government may introduce state specific guidelines. For this, an inter-ministerial committee has been set up to consider the proposals from the state governments," Minister of State (Independent) for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Srikant Jena said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

However, in reply to a question on whether the government has issued directives to the states with regard to formulating uniform guidelines for implementing CSS, he said no such directive has been issued.

Jena said CSS are implemented under the guidelines and modalities as approved for the respective schemes.

Earlier in June, government had reduced the number of CSS during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) to 66 from over 140, for effective monitoring as well as providing greater flexibility to states to use these funds.

Centrally Sponsored Schemes include 17 flagship programmes with significant outlays for major interventions required in health, education, irrigation, urban development and infrastructure sectors.