Odisha to freeze funding to eight schemes

The state government has decided to freeze distribution of Budgetary allocations for eight schemes de-linked from central assistance.

These schemes include National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), Backward Region Grants Funds (BRGF), modernisation of police forces, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyaan. Besides, other centrally supported schemes meant for developing state's export infrastructure, setting up of 6,000 model schools, upgradation of tourist infrastructure and National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) also figure in the list.

"The administrative departments shall not distribute allotments under these programmes/schemes and expenditure out of the provision made in the Budget estimate of 2015-16 shall not be incurred till a conscious decision is taken in the matter. Accordingly, the respective Budget provisions will be blocked in the Odisha treasury portal and no drawal will be allowed from those provisions", additional chief secretary (finance) R Balakrishnan wrote to secretaries of all departments.

The administrative departments have also been instructed to ascertain the new sharing pattern of 24 centrally sponsored schemes from the concerned ministries of Government of India and incur expenditure accordingly. The departments are required to limit expenditure under these schemes commensurate with the availability of central share as per the allocation of funds made by the government of India based on the new sharing pattern.

Since expenditure without central assistance needs prior concurrence of the finance department, the administrative departments are required to furnish such proposals to the department, clearly indicating the emergent need for incurring the expenditure.

Concerned at lopsided spending, the finance department has stressed on complying with the norms of Cash Management System (CMS), aimed to arrest rush of expenditure towards the end of a financial year.