HP CM asks Centre for uniform funding to the state

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has requested the Centre to ensure funding to the hill state on the pattern of north-eastern states.

Singh, who returned here this evening after meeting Union Finance minister P Chidambaram, said special-category hill states were being provided 90 per cent funding from the Centre and state's share was only 10 per cent, but over a period the pattern has changed.

"Now the central assistance varies from 50 per cent to 90 per cent," he said, adding that Himachal has been getting less funding in several centrally-sponsored schemes like Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme and Indira Awas Yojana compared to its north-eastern counterparts.

The Chief Minister said at present a different pattern of funding was being provided to the state under various schemes and requested the Union minister to issue necessary direction to all ministries/departments to modify the guidelines for existing schemes and adopt uniform norms for all the special category states, including Himachal Pradesh.

Singh also requested Chidambaram to restore the special industrial package to the state till 2020 to accelerate the pace of industrialisation in the state.

He said the state had made large-scale investment to improve basic infrastructure in industrial belts to attract private investors and demanded Rs 2,100 crore special financial assistance in 2013-14.

Singh claimed that the state had suffered a loss of Rs 10,725 crore due to adverse recommendation of 13th Finance Commission which underestimated the state's committed liabilities on various accounts like salary and pension.

The state government got an increase of 50 per cent against the average increase of 126 per cent for other special-category hill states.

Chidambaram had appreciated the issues raised by the state government and assured that the Finance ministry would provide all possible financial assistance to the state under various schemes, the Chief Minister added.