DIMAPUR, March 21 � Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio placed the vote on account amounting Rs 3523.58 crore for 2014-15 in the State Assembly today.
Rio, who also holds the Finance portfolio, informed the members that a Vote on Account is being presented consequent upon the decision of the Planning Commission to hold the Annual Plan discussions with the States only after the completion of the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.
On the Naga political issue, Rio admitted that the issue continues to elude solution despite best efforts. However, he mentioned that serious efforts were made to persuade the Union Government for taking concrete steps to solve the Naga political issue and was hopeful that the issue will gain due priority after the ensuing Parliamentary elections.
Highlighting the finances of the State, Rio reminded about the fixation of Plan size of Nagaland (2013-14) at Rs 2,000 crore by the Planning Commission which was inclusive of normal funding of North Eastern States usually received under DONER and NEC. Such inclusions of NEC funds and NLCPR funds to State's Plan outlay has never been done before and hence there was strong objections by all the NE States and in view of the objections, the Planning Commission assured for a mid-term review of the State�s Plan allocations in September to October 2013. However, no such exercise has been taken by the Planning Commission, Rio regretted.
The Chief Minister asserted about the decision of the State Government to go ahead with the implementation of all the projects initiated under the special development package from the State�s own flexible plan funds in stages, whether the Central Government releases the fund or not.
In his presentation, Rio said emphasis has been given to the social service sectors by making the best use of the meagre State Plan allocation.
The Central Government�s unilateral abrogation of the practices of covering the BCR gap of the State Government on annual basis through additional Central Plan Grants since the year 1989-90, leading to growing budget deficits since then has been brought to the notice of the Commission, Rio informed.
He also mentioned that the Finance Commission has been apprised of some special requirements and State specific programmes amounting to Rs 1394.97 crore for implementation through special grants during the award period from 2015-16 to 2019-20.
