Question : Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act

(a) whether the Government has listed three districts from North Andhra and four districts from Rayalaseema as backward districts in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has released Rs. 50 crore per annum in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether there is a demand from the public representatives to consider listing Prakasam district as backward district by Cabinet decision or amendment of the Reorganisation Act as the population of SC/ST and agricultural labour is high and the per capita income is low; and

(e) if so, the response of the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b): The Provisions under Section 46(2) and Section 46(3) under A.P. Reorganisation Act, 2014 are as follows:
Section 46(2): Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1), the Central Government may, having regard to the resources available to the successor State of Andhra Pradesh, make appropriate grants and also
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LS.USQ.No. 2959 FOR 15.3.2016

ensure that adequate benefits and incentives in the form of special development package are given to the backward areas of that State. Section 46(3): The Central Government shall, while considering the special development package for the successor State of Andhra Pradesh, provide adequate incentives, in particular for Rayalaseema and north coastal regions of that State.

(c): Keeping in view the above provisions of the Act, the Ministry of Finance had released an amount of Rs. 350.00 crore to the Government of Andhra Pradesh under Special Development Package at the rate of Rs. 50 crore per District for seven backward districts of Andhra Pradesh during 2014-15 for the development activities covering Rayalaseema and North Coastal Region. During 2015-16, the Ministry of Finance, Government of India has again released an amount of Rs. 350 crore at the rate of Rs. 50 crore per District for the development of seven backward districts covering Rayalaseema and North Coastal Region of the State.

(d) & (e): Hon’ble Member of Parliament, requested NITI Aayog to declare Prakasam as a backward district. There is no allocation for this programme in 2015-16 as the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) has become a part of the schemes devolved to the States. Therefore, the issue of allocation for any new District under BRGF does not arise.
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