Devise state-specific criteria for Central schemes: Kerala

Kerala today asked the Union government to allow the states to devise region-specific criteria for the implementation of various central schemes as common nation-wide criteria creates problems for them.
Kerala Minister for Local Self-Governance (LSG) K T Jaleel, who was here to attend a conference of State Panchayat Raj Ministers and Principal Secretaries, said central schemes with common nation-wide criteria create trouble for state governments during implementation.
"The union government should let states devise region- specific criteria for the implementation of various central schemes as each state differs in geography and climate," the minister said in a statement.
Jaleel also sought more assistance from the Centre to strengthen 'Kudumbashree', a women-empowerment programme in the state.

Kerala had also urged the Centre to open a branch of National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) in the state.
"We have the potential to become an open defecation free (ODF) state soon but need the help from the Centre to achieve this," Jaleel added.
The LSG minister also demanded the Centre provide assistance to develop infrastructure at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) so that it could provide better training to law makers of various other states.
"We have already requested the union government to include 18 cities from the state in the Amrut cities scheme of the union government. As of now, the Centre has included eight cities from the state," the minister said.