No Niti Aayog meet since a year

States feel frustrated by delay.

While states are still feeling the pinch of bearing greater financial burden of implementing Centrally-sponsored schemes (CSS), the fact that the governing council of Niti Aayog has not held its meeting for almost a year now have only fuelled their resentment. Several states have been keenly waiting for the meeting to take place, as it is a platform where they get an opportunity to air their grievances and discuss other related issues, but the delay has only added to their frustration.

The governing council of Niti Aayog is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is supposed to meet at least once a year. Ever since the erstwhile Planning Commission became Niti Aayog on January 1, 2015, the governing council has held two meetings between February and July 2015.

Official sources informed this newspaper that the governing council may meet in June, conceding that there has been a delay as one meeting at least should be held in a year.

In February last year, the 14th Finance Commission had recommended that 42 per cent of funds should be given to states for implementing CSS, an increase of 10 per cent from the earlier share of 32 per cent. The Centre had later approved the recommendations, much to the concern of several states, especially hill states like Uttarakhand and the north-eastern states, which had urged the government to retain their special category status as they don’t have the desired infrastructure and funds to implement the commission’s suggestion.

States falling under the special category status have to bear 10 per cent of the funds for implementing CSS, whereas the Centre shoulders the responsibility of giving 90 per cent of funding.

Many states were looking forward to discuss the issue during the previous meeting of Niti Aayog’s governing council which was held on July 18, 2015. However, only the land acquisition legislation was discussed in it and the states’ views were sought.

Sources privy to the development said that states were expecting that another meeting of the governing council would be held soon where they could raise the matter of fund devolution and the hill states are keen to seek an assurance from the Centre that their special category status will not be taken away. However, the delay in conducting the meeting has only postponed the resolution of these complex issues.

While official sources have indicated that it may be held in June, there is no clarity on it as yet. With speculation rife about the reshuffle in the Union Cabinet which may happen anytime now and no further Assembly elections scheduled this year, the meeting could take place next month as the government would like to ensure that a year should not lapse since the previous meeting.