14th Finance Commission team wraps up visit
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 08 2013 :
Wrapping up their three-day long visit to the State to study the performance of the State Goverment in the 13th Finance Commission, the official team of 14th Finance Commission led by its Chairman Dr YV Reddy left Imphal in the evening today.
Summing up the visit in a statement, AN Jha, Secretary of 14th Finance Commission said that the Commission members would finalise the recommendations by October 2014 after completing its discussions with all the state Governments, the Government of India and relevant stakeholders.
Dr YV Reddy, Chairman, Prof Abhijit Sen, Sushama Nath, Dr M Govinda Rao and Dr Sudipto Mundle, members of the 14th Finance Commission, and Sh AN Jha, Secretary visited Manipur on October 7-8 to hold consultations with the state Government and key stakeholders.
The commission met with the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and senior officers of the state Government for discussions.
Chief Minister O Ibobi highlighted the positive externalities of having the 'lowest national infant mortality rate' and 'better health parameters' than that of national levels.
Ibobi specifically pointed towards the higher growth in female literacy rate than that of male, recognition of its sportsmen at national and international levels.
He further emphasised the potential of the state to act as the gateway of South East Asian and realise the national Look East Policy.
The Chief Minister also stressed on the issues of poverty and unemployment in the state, high non-plan expenditure, high cost disadvantages for the reasons of location, geographic conditions and infrastructural backwardness of the state.
Ibobi also enumerated the steps taken by his Government to increase its revenue generation and at the same time its attempt to restrict expenditure.
The state Government submitted a memorandum and made a detailed presentation on its finances, projection for the award period.
The commission also interacted with representatives of political parties, Panchayati Raj institutions, urban local bodies and trade and industry associations.
Chief Minister O Ibobi then urged the finance commission to assess the fund requirements for the on a realistic basis rather than a normative basis for the Special Category States on the basis of backwardness index.
Ibobi also urged the commission specially for the state of Manipur keeping in view of its requirements of funds for maintenance of security, resources for the state six Autonomous District Councils and reasonable share from the forest grants in view of large area of the state under forest cover.
He further requested for special grants for repayment of state development loans.
The commission placed on record its appreciation to the Chief Minister and state Government for the cooperation and support extended to the commission and assured that the issues raised will receive due attention in the deliberation of the commission, the statement added.