(a) whether special package has been provided for development of certain States including Jammu and Kashmir in the country during the current financial year;
(b) if so, the names of States to whom this package has been released along with the criteria for releasing the package; and
(c) the details of the funds released to these States including Jammu and Kashmir, State/UT-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)
(a) to (e): Annual Plans of the States are finalized on an assessment of inter-state and inter-sectoral Plan priorities, including developmental needs, within the overall availability of resources at the Central and State level. Central Assistance to State Plans is released annually by the Ministry of Finance, including Special Central Assistance (SCA) to meet the gap in resources to Special Category States; Special Plan Assistance (SPA) to Special Category States for funding of identified projects that are not covered under any Central scheme; SCA for Hill areas; and Additional Central Assistance for Other Projects (ACAOP) for the projects of Special importance to General Category States. Funds are also provided under Additional Central Assistance for selected 88 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts in 10 States. Further, the funds under the State component of Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), consisting of Bundelkhand Package for Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh, Special Plan for KBK districts of Odisha, Special Plan for Bihar, Special Plan for West Bengal and for the development of backward areas of Andhra Pradesh have been released under Demand No.36 (now 37). Project linked assistance of Rs.1000 crore has also been released for reconstruction and rehabilitation work in flood affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir. State-wise details of allocations and funds released during 2014-15 till 09.03.15 is given in the Annexure-I.