Question : BRGF

(a) whether a decision was taken to transfer Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) to States from 2015-16, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the facilities being provided by the Union Government to the States for implementation of these schemes after their transfer to States;

(c) whether any study was conducted regarding the difficulties to be faced by States before the transfer of these schemes, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the manner in which the States are treating the shortage of funds for these schemes; and

(e) whether his Ministry is facing funds cut, if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (e) The Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) Programme and State component of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) have been delinked from budgetary support of the Central Government with effect from 2015-16 on account of higher devolution of funds to the States from 32% to 42% of the Centre’s net tax receipts under the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) award. The Central Government has accepted the recommendations of the FFC for the grant of Rs.2,87,436 crore to the rural and urban local bodies for the period 2015-16 to 2019-20 for providing basic services such as drinking water, sanitation, roads, street lights, playgrounds and other infrastructure. Fund allocation for the Ministry has been increasing since 2015-16.

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