Raje seeks transfer of more Central funds to states

New Delhi, July 24 (UNI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today sought greater transfer of Central funds to the states for a balanced development through enhanced plan size.

Stating that the gross budgetary support to State plans should be stepped up from 25 per cent to 40 per cent, Ms Raje emphasised that share of states in service tax should be hiked to at least 50 per cent, central assistance to states increased and the recommendations of the Twelfth Finance Commssion promptly and correctly implemented.

At the regional consultation on the Approach Paper to the Eleventh Plan at Yojana Bhawan here with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and other officials, the Chief Minister described the targetted growth rate of 8.5 per cent and doubling the per capita income in the next ten years as "balanced but conservative".

Stating that the 11th Plan should aim for a double digit growth, Ms Raje was of the view that the Plan growth rate of service sector at 9.4 per cent and that of industrial sector at more than 10 per cent could be exceeded provided steps were taken to improve existing infrastructure, reform labour laws, privatise public sector undertakings and reduce wasteful subsidies and expenditures.

Rajasthan, she said, was a revenue surplus state as a result of efficient financial management.

The Chief Minister also stressed on the need to formulate policies for fostering public-private partnership for the social sector, pointing out that the state had involved private institutions and NGOs in the education, health, mid-day meal and other sectors.

Drawing the attention of the Planning Commission to the success of Rajasthan Jal Chetna Abhiyan, she said that community participation should be mobilised for water conservation.

On Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Ms Raje demanded that the scheme be implemented up to secondary school level and the state share reduced from the existing 25 per cent to 10 per cent because the entire cess amount was being kept by the Central Government.

The mid-day meal should be extended up to upper primary school and an education technology mission set up for comprehensive improvement of education, she added.

On the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, she expressed concern over the "erroneous criteria" adopted by the Central Government as only six districts from the geographically hostile state had been included in the programme to provide employment in rural areas.

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