AGARTALA, June 18 � Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to attend the upcoming meeting of North Eastern Council (NEC) to hear the concern of Chief Ministers of the eight NE States over the dissolution of Planning Commission, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar confirmed here today.
Speaking to the media at Civil Secretariat here, the Chief Minister said he had a meeting with the Prime Minister in his office in Delhi on Tuesday.
�In the meeting, several issues related to financial assistance from the Centre were discussed thoroughly. I told him Tripura used to receive Rs 22,000 cr or Rs 23,000 cr annually under three different heads � Normal Assistance, Spl Plan Assistance and Spl Central Assistance till 2014-15�, he said after returning from Delhi.
Sarkar said he briefed the PM that NE States would be in big trouble if extra financial assistance is not given to supplement the Planning Commission�s contribution.
�It�s a welcome step that the XIV Finance Commission had increased share of Central tax from 32 to 42 per cent but the total allocation for States has been curtailed after dissolution of the plan panel�, he pointed out.
In course of the meeting, Sarkar also brought the change of sharing pattern of various Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) to the notice of the PM.
�Earlier, Northeastern States used to receive outlay under CSS on 90:10 sharing pattern. But, the Centre has changed sharing pattern of the different schemes resulting in a major problem for the NE States�, he told the Prime Minister.
After giving a patient hearing, the PM said the Central Government will require Rs 2 lakh crore to supplement Planning Commission�s assistance to the various States. �From where will this much money come�, the PM told the Chief Minister.
Modi further said the Centre will consider on how to assist deficit States after receiving the reports from the Sub Committees of NITI Aayog.
Sarkar further said he requested the PM to remain present in the next meeting of NEC to hear the concerns of the Northeastern Chief Ministers.
�The Prime Minister has agreed to attend the NEC meeting to hear the NE States� concern�, he said.
