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| PC seeks annual plan from J&K, 5 percent increase in normal assistance likely | | CSS restructured into 66 schemes | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Jan 6: While the state government is yet to decide dates for holding either budget session or getting 'vote on account'; Planning Commission (PC) has started routine exercise for the finalization of annual plan for Jammu and Kashmir.
Commission has in a letter D.O.No.M 13048/38/2013/SP-Coord. Dated 02-12-2013 asked the state government to send the draft annual state plan 2014-15 documents by the end of January 2014. They have said that figures which the Planning Commission would discuss with the state government would be tentative and shall be confirmed after the new government takes over in New Delhi in June 2014.
In the wake of this exercise being done purely to prevent delay in the decision making process, commission has said that level of centre's Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for the annual Plan 2014-15; has not yet been decided and would be finalized only after discussions start between the commission and the state government.
However, the state has been asked to commence the process of preparation of draft Annual Plan 2014-15 on the basis of 5 percent increase in normal central assistance (NCA) while keeping other components of the central assistance at the same level as that of the previous year. State has also been informed about restructuring of existing centrally sponsored schemes.
Commission has in the same letter said that CSS are being restructured into 66 centrally sponsored schemes and this includes schemes which were earlier covered under the Additional Central Assistance (ACA) head. It has further stated that all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) would be classified and budgeted together as central assistance to the state plan with effect from March 2014.
Commission has said that these decisions would have implications for the size of the state plan as some central transfers on the Plan side which were hitherto a part of central Plan will henceforth be classified as central assistance to state plan as it reflects classification of fund flows from centre to states appropriately. This has been done after discussions were held at various stages with secretaries and other officials of the state as well as planning commission.
Commission has further said that it would review implementation issues in Special Plan Assistance (SPA) or Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in February 2014 on a mutually convenient date. It maintained that guidelines for flexi-funds within the CSS have been finalised by Planning Commission (PC) in consultation with Ministry of Finance and will be issued shortly. Commission has asked the state government to complete the exercise by the end of January.
In Jammu and Kashmir, state government is yet to take a decision on when to hold the session and whether it would be full budget session or vote on account. If the sources are to be believed, a tentative date February 15 is likely to be placed before cabinet for approval by January 12. If the cabinet agrees, session would begin on February 15 and conclude by March 8 or earlier, said the sources.
They added that since the elections for Lok Sabha are likely to be held in April-May 2014, state government is vying to complete this highly important legislative exercise within shortest possible time. Meanwhile, after the planning commission letter, Finance Department has started its budgetary exercise and consolidation of proposals as it would prepare itself for a full Budget Session in case the model code of conduct didn't come into force by that time.
Governor, in exercise of powers conferred upon him under Section 53 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, calls upon members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council to assemble in the Central Hall of Legislature Complex in Jammu for Budget Session every year. Last year, the 34-day-long Budget Session had begun on February 28. |
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