Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to continue with the earlier approved pattern of fund allocations under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA), Untied Special Central Assistance (USCA) and Additional Central Assistance (ACA) for Assam and other NE states.
In a letter to the Prime Minister sent on Tuesday, Mr. Gogoi said, “It is pertinent to mention that special category states like Assam were earlier getting SPA, USCA and ACA on 90:10 basis. The funding pattern of Centrally Sponsored Schemes should not be altered to our disadvantage. It is imperative that Assam and other Northeastern states continue to retain their Special Category status along with the earlier approved pattern of fund allocations under SPA, Untied SCA and ACA.”
“I may also mention here that the State Budget for 2015-16 which was presented to the Assam Assembly on March 10, 2015, was based on the usual assumptions relating to growth in resources and Central Assistance,” he pointed out.
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“Thus the sudden changes in the pattern of funding for centrally sponsored schemes as well as the changes in central share of many flagship programmes, block grants, etc announced in the Union Budget has created an unexpected burden on state resources,” the Chief Minister said.
“Further, it is noted some schemes like the National e-Governance Action Plan, National Scheme for Modernisation of Police and Other Forces, Backward Region Grant Fund as well as many block grants like the Special Plan Assistance, etc. have been delinked from Union support. For continuing projects under these schemes, the states will have to make direct allocation from their own resources thus leaving very little for any new schemes or priorities. I, therefore, suggest that the Union Government continue to meet the expenditures incurred under these schemes to the extent of its earlier agreed share,” he said.
- PTI
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