CMs panel submits report on central schemes

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has submitted the final report of the chief ministers on rationalisation of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS), suggesting social inclusion schemes for backward castes and minorities should have first claim on central funds, the NITI Aayog said on Thursday.

The chief minister's sub-group on CSS has also recommended that the number of CSS should come down to 30 and flexi-funds can go up to 25 percent, from the existing 10 percent.

The sub-group comprises of chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar.

"MGNREGA and schemes for social inclusion would be the Core of the Core and shall be the first charge on funds available for the National Development Agenda," the sub-group said in its report.

According to the panel, the Centre has retained 50 of the 66 ongoing CSS in the Budget 2015-16. The balance are being either taken into the central sector or reformulated as new umbrella schemes or have been transferred to states.

The panel has said the focus of CSS should be on those schemes that comprise the National Development Agenda where the Centre and the states will work together.

The panel has recommended that among core schemes, those for social protection and inclusion should form the "Core of the Core".

It has also recommended 100 percent of central funding through the NITI Aayog and the union finance ministry for union territories.