Question : ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES

(a) whether a meeting of Chief Ministers of naxal affected States was recently held;

(b) if so, the details of issues discussed and the outcome thereof;

(c) the amount of financial assistance provided to the States and the amount of funds utilised under different schemes by the naxal affected States during the last three years and the currnet year, State-wise;

(d) whether there are reports that the said financial assistance is not being utilised as per stipulated guidelines by the States; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the measures taken by the Government to ensure proper utilisation of the said funds?

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

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. A meeting was held under the Chairmanship of union Home Minister with the Ministers of Central Ministries and Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh & Maharashtra and officials of Telangana and Odisha on 09.02.2015 in New Delhi to review and monitor the challenge of Left Wing Extremism in certain worst LWE affected districts. During the meeting, a number of important decisions on improving the security scenario and to accelerate the development efforts in Chhattisgarh and in the adjoining districts of Odisha, Maharashtra and Telangana, were taken.

(c): The State-wise details of funds released and funds utilized under major schemes implemented by this Ministry, namely, ‘Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme’, ‘Special Infrastructure Scheme’ (SIS), ‘Construction/Strengthening of Fortified Police Stations’ and ‘Setting up of Counter-Insurgency and Anti-Terrorist (CIAT) Schools in LWE affected states’ during last three years and in the current year are given at Annexure-1 to Annexure-4.

(d) & (e): This Ministry issues guidelines under which a particular Scheme is implemented, at the inception of the Scheme. Normally, these guidelines are adhered to by the implementing agencies which are subject to Audit. As and when, any instance of contravention of these guidelines come to the notice, necessary corrective action is taken on immediate basis. Instances have come to the notice of this Ministry about slow utilization on funds by the LWE affected States and delay in submission of utilization certificates thereon. The develop- ment work is undertaken in the LWE affected areas, some of which are inaccessible, densely forested and remote having rough terrain. In these areas, there are serious problems in getting the contractors for undertaking the work an also in mobilization of men and machinery on account of security threat, which results in poor progress of work and slower utilization of funds. This Ministry advises the State Governments from time-to-time to ensure timely utilization of funds and timely submission of utilization certificates, failing which the subsequent funds allocation to the State Governments, are curtailed appropriately.