Raghuram report not applicable : CM
Govt against removal of State from special category list
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 19 2013: The Dr Raghuram Committee's report based on ten development indices which was submitted to the Union Finance Minister and according to which Manipur was removed from the list of special category States is not applicable to Manipur in view of the State's backwardness and economically weak status, asserted Chief Minister O Ibobi.

Chief Minister O Ibobi was speaking in a debate initiated by Opposition member Dr I Ibohalbi in the State Assembly today regarding removal of Manipur from the list of special category States.

The State Government on learning about submission of the report by Dr Raghuram Committee sent a representation to the Prime Minister, Union Finance Minister and the Planning Commission reacting to the same report, Ibobi informed the House.

Some points of the Raghuram Committee's report

It is not acceptable to group Manipur among relatively developed States after delisting it from the group of special category States.

The report on ten development indices was misleading.

Manipur is still a poor State and its annual income is quite low as compared to other States.

As such, the matter demands closer scrutiny, he stated.

The Planning Commission would not simply implement the report.

The Planning Commission has already informed the State Government that it would examine the report minutely.

Nonetheless, if a negative response is forthcoming from the Centre, then the need for an all-party delegation may arise but as of now there is no such necessity, Ibobi stated.

Earlier, initiating the debate Dr Ibohalbi expressed serious apprehension about Manipur getting reduced share of funds/schemes from the Centre once it is removed from the list of special category States.

Even when the State is enjoying special category status, the State Government has been struggling hard to produce its share of 10 per cent fund while the Centre would produce 90 per cent of the fund required for several development programmes.

He went on to ask whether the State Government would simply accept the committee's recommendation to club Manipur among relatively developed States.