Question : Backward Region Grant Fund

(a) the name of the districts covered under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jammu-Kashmir;
(b) the details of funds allocated and released to the Governments of these States under BRGF during each of the last three years and current year, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to revise/amend the guidelines for inclusion of backward region under BRGF particularly for Jammu and Kashmir;
(d) whether there is a provision for district-wise allocation of funds from BRGF and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether district-wise scheme is also formulated for proper utilisation of these funds and if so, the details thereof;
(f) whether the local public representatives are included in the monitoring committee for monitoring of works undertaken under BRGF and if so, the details thereof; and
(g) the other measures taken for the monitoring and proper utilisation of funds under BRGF?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) The names of the districts which were covered under the of Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) Programme (District component) in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir are at Annexure.
(b) Consequent upon the implementation of the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission, share of States in the net proceeds of the Union taxes has been significantly enhanced from 32% to 42% of the Centre’s net tax receipts. This enhanced the availability of funds with the States allowing them greater autonomy for financing and designing the developmental schemes, especially for the backward regions. Hence, BRGF Programme has been delinked from the budgetary support of the Central Government since 2015-16. Accordingly, no fund under BRGF has been allocated/ released to any state including the States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir since 2015-16.
(c) As the BRGF Programme has been delinked from the budgetary support of the Central Government since 2015-16, there is no proposal to revise/amend the guidelines for inclusion of backward region under BRGF particularly for Jammu & Kashmir.
(d) to (g) Previously, under the BRGF Programme (District component), Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) released funds to the State Governments concerned for onward transfer to the identified backward districts. Audit of works through a Review Committee at District Level and Social Audit at the Panchayat levels was also provisioned. However, since BRGF programme was delinked from Budgetary support of the Central Government with effect from 2015-16, there have been no releases.

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