Government raises funding under state Plans to Rs 3.38 lakh crore

New Delhi: Finance Minister P Chidambaram has provided Rs 3,38,562 crore for 2014-15 under the states Plans, which is higher than revised estimates of Rs 1,19,039 crore for the current fiscal.

In the Plan Budget, an additional central assistance is given under state Plans for implementation of centrally sponsored schemes (CSSs) like mid-day meal scheme and rural employment guarantee programme. At present these schemes are proposed to be restricted to 66 schemes from the 126 such schemes currently in vogue under 17 flagship programmes, a press statement said. Last year, Chidambaram had provided central assistance of Rs 1,36,254 crore in the Budget of 2013-14 under state Plans.

According to the statement, a central assistance of Rs 34,000 crore is proposed to be given towards State/UTs Plans for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. Besides Rs 27,635 crore is to be given for Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Rs 13,152 crore for National Programme for Mid-Day meals in schools and Rs 4,965 crore for Rashtriya Madhyanik Shiksha Abiyan.

For the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) a central assistance of Rs 18,691 crore will be provided to State/UTs Plans. Similarly Rs 16,000 crore will be provided for State/UTs Plans as central assistance for rural housing Rs 13,000 crore for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, Rs 11,000 crore for drinking water supply and Rs 4,260 crore for rural sanitation.

A sum of Rs 2,200 crore for National Food Security Mission will be provided to State/UTs Plans. For Urban Development, Rs 7,060 crore will be given as central assistance to State/UTs Plans for the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

While delivering his interim budget speech in Lok Sabha, the finance minister informed the House that in addition to funds allocated in the current year, a sum of Rs 1,200 crore is released as additional central assistance to the North Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. These states deserve special attention and will get the additional amount before the end of this year.