Transforming the Periphery
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 14, 2014 -
The Narendra Modi led Government’s move to replace the erstwhile Planning Commission with NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog seems to have taken off with calculated sequence of order when one recalls the first meeting of its Governing Council held recently in Delhi attended by Chief Ministers of different States in the country.
What became clearer on the first meeting was the implicit call for strengthening federalism with specific reference to greater devolution of funds and arbitrary cuts in Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).
Though Modi has called for burying differences in the name of achieving growth and generating employment, the participating Chief Ministers had sought greater clarity on the mechanism for coordination between State Governments and the Centre under the new body.
While some States had raised questions on the criteria of allotment of funds for regions considered backward and underdeveloped, some States with commendable track records of attaining certain level of development urged for a transparent deal in the criteria.
The States that have solely depended on the imprinted benevolence of the Centre and those States that have been facing fund crunch had few suggestions to make. The subdued or skilfully crafted statements of some Chief Ministers have been necessitated by the reluctance of displeasing those who mattered.
Harping on the issue of de-centralisation of planning and direct devolution of funds to the States cannot be considered new line of argument.
What some of the ailing States now required to note is that in the age of NITI Aayog, it is the choice they make with regard to financial discipline and (mis)governance rather than pat on the back of the benefactor as if they had no other options.
What is of utmost importance now for many of the States in India is to dispassionately reassess their performance during the past years if they are looking forward to achieving not only growth but also elimination of gross disparity.
Now, there should be no space for those in the helm of affairs in the States and their inability to calm the storm in the periphery during the past many years under Centralized planning.
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