Question : Funds for Agricultural Schemes

(a) whether some of the State Governments have failed to spent the allocated funds to expedite spending of the allocations made under various agricultural development schemes;

(b) if so, whether the Union Government has conducted a review meeting with the State Governments recently in this regard;

(c) if so, the findings thereof;

(d) whether the Union Government has issued directions and guidelines to the States in this regard;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps taken by the Union Government to monitor the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes and utilization of funds by these States to check recurrence of such cases of under utilization of funds?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIYA)

(a) to (f): Agriculture is a State Subject. However, the Government of India supports the State Governments through various Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, for which financial assistance is provided in the ratio of 60:40 to States (90:10 in case of North Eastern Region.) Some of the States like Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have not been able to fully utilize the allocated funds. To make proper/full utilisation of funds, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare regularly monitors/reviews the situation through various meetings with the State Governments for expeditious utilization of allocated funds. Besides, Zonal Conferences, Review Meetings, Video Conferences and visits of Officers of the Ministry to various States also help to keep a close watch on the pace of expenditure.

********