Devolution of funds to states should be based on performance indicators: NITI VC

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar today pitched for building 'performance indicators' for the devolution of funds to states.

Kumar also said that while fiscal irresponsibility is bad, "fiscal fetish" is also not desirable and a delicate balance has to be maintained.

"I think it is clear that these (devolution of funds) criteria has to include some performance based criteria. And therefore those states which have done better in certain performance should not be punished.

"...I think it is better deal now to start process of building some performance indicators for the devolution of funds and then increase it in phased manner," the NITI Aayog vice chairman said at an event organised by industry body CII.

Kumar's observations come in the backdrop of some states expressing disquiet about the Terms of Reference of the 15th Finance Commission to decide the sharing of tax resources between the Centre and states.

The NITI Aayog was in favour of recommending to the 15th Finance Commission to consider Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) performance for allocating a small percentage of funds to different states, he said.

But unfortunately they found that if the government uses SDG performance criteria for funds devolution to the states, "then it is the more backward states or populated states that will lose some of their allocations and that would be politically harmful", Kumar said.

Karnataka Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda had recently alleged that the Centre was playing politics over the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 15th Finance Commission.

He said ToR would lead to progressive states getting lesser allocation for the 2020-25 period.

On the other hand, states that were lagging in governance and responsibility to deliver socio-economic services would be rewarded by grants, he argued.

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu had also recently objected to the terms and conditions set forth for the 15th Finance Commission for devolution of funds.

Finance ministers of all southern states would meet in Thiruvananthapuram on April 10 to discuss all these issues.

The 15th Finance Commission had decided on the percentage of financial devolution and grants-in-aid, taking the 2011 census as the basis for central assistance.

The commission was constituted late last year under the chairmanship of N K Singh