The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : State fails to utilise Central funds

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Thursday, Dec 27, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

State fails to utilise Central funds

P. Venugopal

Delay in decision-making affects fund disbursal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two instances in which the State government is seen to have failed to derive full benefit from Central schemes are being discussed in informed circles here.

The first relates to the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, a scheme announced by the Centre earlier this year to help the States address the distressful condition of the farmers.

The scheme envisages spending Rs.25,000 crore over a period of five years across the country to rejuvenate the farm sector, the performance of which has been quite appalling in the recent years.

About two-and-a-half months ago, Kerala received intimation from the Centre about the allocation of Rs.60 crore under this scheme for the current year. The activities had to be decided and a series of meetings had to be conducted at the district and State levels in double-quick time, because the money would lapse if not utilised by the financial year- end.

The State Planning Board did all these at a speed unusual in Kerala and the list of the activities to be included in the scheme is ready. The only formality left is for a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to provide administrative sanction for the activities. This committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday. However, since many other pressing engagements including the visit of the Vice-President of India have come the Chief Secretary’s way, the meeting had to be postponed.

Case of tsunami funds

The second case concerns the Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme, for the implementation of which also there is an expert committee headed by the Chief Secretary.

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