DoNER advised NE states to utilise central fund properly

Aizawl, Nov 29 (UNI) Ministry of Development of Northeast Region (DoNER) has advised NE states to take steps to address a massive shortfall in the norm for all union ministries to spend ten per cent of their budget outlay in the region.

According to the official sources here, DoNER reviewed the performance of NE states recently and revealed that the funds spent by different ministries had fallen down at 8.15 per cent in 2005-06, which was 10.16 per cent in 2004-05.

The ministry has also suggested the states to adopt a proactive approach to ensure the projects on time to receive funding from the non-lapsable pool of central funds for the region.

The record showed the spending of funds by central ministries in the region had risen from 6.63 per cent of their budgets in 1998-1999 to 10.16 per cent in 2004-05 before falling to 8.15 per cent in 2005-06.

There were huge shortfalls in key sectors like roads and highways (Rs 629 crore), education (Rs 474 crore), health (Rs 370 crore), power (Rs 161 crore) and agriculture (Rs 99.64 crore).

Sources said quoting DoNER statement that the central norm of spending ten per cent in the region could not be achieved by the Union Health Ministry because states did not submit proposals under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) while ministry of Human Resource Development was also unable to spend funds in the region for the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan.

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