From Our Correspondent
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has sought Special Central Assistance from the Centre to tide over the financial crisis aftermath of deprivation by 13th Finance Commission.
Sarkar who was speaking at 56th meeting of the National Development Council at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi on Saturday said, “pay commission related expenditures impose a heavy fiscal burden to the small states and eat into plan funds”.
On the state’s financial crisis after implementation of 13th Finance Commission’s recommendations, Chief Minister said that he had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking special financial assistance to bailout the situation.
“I hope, the Prime Minister will take a realistic view on the letter as the state has already plunged into financial crisis”, he said adding “ In our federal polity while a state face problem whatsoever whom it should approach and ask for help other than the Central government”. As per the government claim, the 13th Finance Commission had given Rs. 1250 crore less to the state leading to huge burden in meeting the non-plan expenditure.
On the poverty line, Chief Minister listed loopholes saying that this constitutes most urgent problem toady and one would have expected the Approach Paper to the 12th Five Year plan to do some introspection in this regard.
Sarkar said, Tripura and North Eastern region face various problems due to absence of infrastructure, employment opportunities and developed educational institutions.
“Large scale deprivation which has undermined the fate of the citizen of NE states including Tripura has to be redressed through a follow up action at the earliest by the Centre”, said Sarkar.
“The central government should exercise for the connectivity and communication network including internet of Northeastern region which is currently woefully inadequate through a communication package”, he said. Sarkar also criticized the Union government for sky-rocketing price hike and inflation. To effectively address the problem, Chief Minister suggested for widening the scope of a universal PDS. “The basket of commodities covered under the PDS and also the scope of employment guarantee schemes will have to be enlarged”, he said.
