(a) whether the Planning Commission has received any demand from the State Governments
regarding the modification of criteria for allocation of Central Fund for Rural Poverty
Alleviation Programme;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government have accepted demand of the States and proposed to set up a Task
Force in this regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by which the said Task Force is likely to be set up?
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 (e): The Planning Commission has received representations from some States regarding
modification of the criterion for allocation of funds under major rural poverty alleviation
programmes. While some States have advocated that allocation of funds be based on the Task
Force estimates for 1987-88 (Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh), others are in favour
of adopting the Expert Group estimates of poverty for 1993-94 (Punjab, Kerala and Tripura).
This issue was placed before the National Development Council (NDC). In pursuance of the
decision taken in the meeting of the NDC held on 19.2.99, it was decided to set up a
Committee of the National Development Council under the chairmanship of the Deputy
Chairman of the Planning Commission with Members from both the Central Ministries and the
State Governments to determine the criterion for allocation of funds under major rural poverty
alleviation programmes. The NDC Committee after discussing various criteria for allocation of
funds under major rural poverty alleviation programmes recommended the continuation of
existing criterion. The Committee also recommended that many important suggestions which
relate to incentives for better performance in reducing poverty and additional funds for areas with
extreme poverty and distress could be taken up when the work starts on the Tenth Plan. The
recommendations of the NDC Committee would be presented for approval to the National
Development Council.