The number of centrally-sponsored schemes (CSS) is likely to be reduced to 30 from 72 with a Chief Ministers’ sub-group of the NITI Aayog reaching a broad consensus on the issue.
The panel has also recommended increasing the share of flexi funds to 25 per cent from the current 10 per cent.
“There is a broad consensus on reducing number of CSS and having two types of schemes,” panel’s convenor Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said after the meeting of the sub-group here at NITI Aayog.
The recommendations will be finalised by July 5 and consent of all members would be sought before submitting the final report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Some more suggestions have come. I have formed a committee of NITI Aayog officials headed by its CEO. It will deliberate... prepare a final draft by July 5. After seeking all Chief Ministers consent on the draft, the final recommendations will be submitted to the Prime Minister,” said Mr. Chouhan.
The panel met in Bhopal on May 28 for the first time and had met three more times since then.
Based on earlier meetings, a draft report was presented on Saturday to the members for comments, which was prepared by a committee headed by the NITI Aayog CEO Sindhushree Khullar.
The draft report suggested centrally sponsored schemes to be divided into two broad groups. The first, core scheme, comprising of national development agenda that includes legislatively backed schemes such as MNREGA, Swachh Bharat Mission and Mid-Day Meal. The final list will decided later.
The second is optional schemes for social protection and social inclusion. Based on the division of schemes into two parts, the number of CSS would be 30, the draft stated.
According to draft, the Centre’s share would not be less than 50 per cent.
Besides Mr. Chouhan, Saturday’s meeting was attended by Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Nagaland among others.
