(a) whether there is no developmental activities in North-Eastern States despite
increasing Central assistance in the current financial year;
(b) if so, the reasons therefore; and
(c) the concrete measures taken/proposed to be taken to improve the situation in
these States?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF
STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC GRIEVANCES IN THE
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)
(a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE HOUSE WITH
RESPECT TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 191 REGARDING
DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH-EAST STATES BY SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU TO
BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2000
((a) to (c): The North-Eastern States have achieved development in terms of higher
Literacy and lower Crude Birth, Crude Death and Infant Mortality Rates than the
All-India average. To ensure speedy economic development in the Region, a large
numbers of projects, included in the PM`s Packages and Shukla Commission
Recommendations, have been completed/ taken up for implementation. Further,
following policy initiatives have also been taken to augment the resource base of the North-Eastern States:
(i) 30% of Normal Central Assistance is ear-marked for Special Category States which include N.E. States.
(ii) 90% of Plan assistance is grant and 10% loan as against 30% grant and 70% loan for other States.
(iii) State contribution of 15%, which is mandatory for the Basic Minimum
Services schemes, is not applicable to N.E. States.
(iv) 10% of Plan provision of the Central Ministries/Departments has been ear-marked for development of N.E. States.
(v) Over and above the State Plan outlays which have been increasing over the years, funds are also being sanctioned out of the Non-Lapsable Central Pool
of Resources created through transfer of unspent balance of the ear-
marked outlays of the Central Ministries and Departments meant for development of the N.E. States.
(vi) The North Eastern Council is also engaged in the development of
infrastructure in the Region.
(vii) Special dispensation has been made in respect of the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) by incorporating minor irrigation projects for the North-Eastern States and allowing 25% of the State`s share, as against 33%
for others, in availing of Central Loan Assistance.
(viii) Diversion to the extent of 20% of the Normal Central Assistance (Plan) is allowed for Non-Plan purposes.
Following steps have been taken to optmise benefits of the schemes/projects
being implemented in the Region:-
(i) Monitoring of implementation of schemes/programmes in the Region
on quarterly basis.
(ii) Involvement of public sector undertakings like NEPCO, BHEL,
Border Road Organisation etc. in implementation of projects, as far as possible.
(iii) Channelising of Non-Lapsable funds through Central
Ministries/Departments, wherever necessary.
(iv) Sensitising the States to the need of reducing their non-plan
expenditure.