Question : ADDITIONAL CENTRAL ASSISTANCE UNDER NFAS

(a) whether additional Central assistance is made available to all the beneficiaries of the National Family Assistance Scheme of the Government;

(b) if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether adequate additional Central assistance would be provided to the State of Madhya Pradesh considering all eligible beneficiaries;

(d) whether the Government have sanctioned a sum of rupees 8813.82 lakh to the State of Madhya Pradesh under National Family Assistance Scheme (NFAS) for year 2005-06;

(e) if so, whether the entire amount has been released during the year 2005-06 and;

(f) if not the time by which the balance funds are likely to be released to Madhya Pradesh?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSWAL:

(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. The National Family Benefit Scheme is a component of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which has since been transferred to the State Sector. Accordingly ACA for this purpose is released by the Ministry of Finance based on the recommendations by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). Presently, State-wise allocations under the Scheme are made by the MoRD by affixing numberical ceiling for each State based on parameters such as States` population, poverty ratio and mortality rates. The numerical ceiling provides only the upper limit. The actual physical targets and allocation of funds from year to year for the State Governments are based on the budget allocation for the Scheme for the year.

(d) to (f): During the year 2005-06, the State of Madhya Pradesh was allocated a sum of Rs.7849.45 lakhs of which the entire amount was released to Madhya Pradesh during the 2005-06.