Three major Opposition-ruled states – Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Telangana – have come on board with the NDA government on the issue of rationalisation of centrally-sponsored schemes. The final report on behalf of the sub-group of chief ministers on the rationalisation of centrally-sponsored schemes was submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday.
The sub-group consists of chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur, Rajasthan, Telangana, and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were present. Modi complimented the chief ministers for their efforts.
Samajwadi Party ruled-UP, Kerala with a Congress leadership and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi-led Telangana government have all come on board, setting aside their differences and agreed on the recommendations made in this report, said sources. There are currently around 70 flagship schemes being implemented.
In February this year, the 14th Finance Commission (FFC) report tabled before Parliament recommended by a majority decision that the states’ share in the net proceeds of the Union Tax Revenues would be raised to 42% from the 32% earlier recommended by the 13th Finance Commission. This recommendation by the 14th FCC report was viewed as a huge boost by the Modi government to the federal structure in the country.