Question : CENTRAL ASSISTANCE TO RAJASTHAN

(a) the additional Central assistance provided to the Government of Rajasthan in addition to the planned outlay for the year 2009-10;

(b) whether the Government has any mechanism for disbursement of this additional funds in the area of agriculture;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of additional funds asked by the Government of Rajasthan for the fiscal improvement; and

(e) the total amount sanctioned/being sanctioned for Rajasthan to improve the fiscal deficit and repayment of various interests.

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

(a) to (c): The total approved State Plan outlay for the Govt. of Rajasthan for 2009-10 was Rs.17,322 crore out of which the approved Central Assistance to the State Plan was Rs.2,448.66 crore. The Central Assistance comprised of normal Central Assistance of Rs.484.42 crore, Additional Central Assistance (ACA) for Externally Aided Projects (EAP) for Rs.129.50 crore and the other scheme based ACA of Rs.1,834.74 crore. In the scheme based ACA, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is the main scheme supporting agriculture. Rs.219.55 crore was approved as ACA under RKVY for Rajasthan for the year 2009-10.

(d) & (e): The Planning commission approves Central Assistance to the State Plan as well as the scheme of financing of the State Plan. The annual borrowing ceiling is fixed by the Ministry of Finance. The State Govt. receives the share in Central taxes and grants as recommended by the Finance Commission from the Ministry of Finance. The State Govt. is responsible for the repayment of loans & interest and for management of fiscal deficit through the State budget.