'Niti Aayog CMs sub-group can't decide on policies shaped long back': Rawat

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Sunday said that the Niti Aayog chief ministers' sub-group cannot take a call on policies that have been shaped long back.

"This is the decision taken by Niti Aayog's chief ministers' sub-group. In fact, some of my BJP mates accused me of not taking part in the discussion when I am not even part of the committee... I don't really know how some people can take a call and put a curb on schemes that have been shaped long back. For this, you will have to take opinion from the public, you will have to give reasons. I know that some schemes need changes, but before doing so one needs to take everything into consideration," Rawat told ANI here.

Rawat further said that most states in the country have raised their voices against the changes in the funding pattern in the new budget as they affect the financial structures of the economy.

NITI Aayog's sub-group of chief ministers on Saturday arrived at a broad consensus on cutting down the number of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) to 30 from the current 72.

This is expected to be finalised by July 5 when the final report will be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heads NITI Aayog as its chairperson.

During the UPA regime, the number centrally sponsored schemes were reduced from 147 to 66.

The Centre has also decided to raise state share in taxes to 42 percent from 32 percent.

The schemes will be classified into core and non-core schemes based on their priority.

For core schemes, the revenue-sharing mechanism will be 60 percent for the Centre and 40 percent for the states.

Under the optional schemes, the funding will be shared equally.

For the 11 special category states, the central sharing will be 90 percent and state sharing will be ten percent for core schemes, and 80 and 20 percent respectively for optional schemes.