Guwahati: Assam Assembly on Tuesday adopted another unanimous resolution, the third in the year, urging the Central government to restore ‘special category state’ status to Assam, that will ensure more central fund for development projects and schemes in the state and 90 (Central share) : 10 (State share).
Moving the resolution on behalf of the government, state Planning and Development Minister Ajanta Neog said restoration of the special funding was pattern was essential for expediting development works of the state.She pointed that though Central share in funding of some of the development schemes had been increased after the recommendation of the CMs’ sub-committee on the issue of continuing special category status to eight NE and three Himalayan states, it was still not sufficient for to proper effective implementation of all the schemes.
As per the recommendations of the CMs’ sub-committee, the Centre has now approved 90:10 funding pattern for five schemes which were run on 100 per cent central funding earlier, 80:20 for three schemes and 80:20 funding pattern against eight schemes which were earlier funded at 90:10 proportion.“This change in funding pattern as per recommendation of the CMs’ sub-committee, will not reduce the financial burden on the state government in any manner,” Neog said.
As per the resolution, the legislators urged the Centre to continue according special category status
to Assam and ensure that the state continued enjoying other allied benefits, like NCA, Special Planning Assistance and Untied Special Central Assistance.
The House all decided to send an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister to apprise him about stalemate created in implementation development schemes in the state because of changed funding pattern.
The delegation will press for restoration special category status to Assam.
