Panel for higher funds flow to backward areas

The sub-committee constituted by the Orissa government to examine the report of the Regional Imbalance Enquiry Commission (RIEC) has decided to recommend to the government for increasing the flow of funds to the backward district and blocks.

In the first meeting of the sub-committee chaired by the development commissioner, RN Bohidar, the members were apprised about the recommendation of the S K Mohanty commission on various measures to remove the regional imbalance in the state.

The commission considered 14 parameters like level of agricultural development, industrialisation, human development, connectivity and infrastructure among others for ranking various districts and the blocks in terms of backwardness. Sources said, though the commission categorised the districts and blocks as most backward, backward, developing and developed, no district wise analysis of expenditure is available at present to make the comparisons.

So there was a suggestion to start district wise analysis of plan expenditure to facilitate expenditure on the basis of priority. Though the commission suggested that district-wise planning should be taken up, some members of the sub-committee felt that sectoral planning will also be required in some sectors like irrigation.

The district-wise planning can be possible in sectors like education, health and road infrastructure. Further, shifting from the present pattern of distribution of funds, where all blocks are being provided same amount, focused attention will be required for allocating funds to the blocks depending on its level of backwardness.

While 5 to 10 percent of the plan outlay needs to be earmarked for the district sector plan, 25 percent of this may be earmarked as ‘innovative fund’, the sub-committee felt. The government formed the sub-committee after the RIEC submitted its report to the state government.