Shillong, July 9: The Meghalaya State Planning Board meeting chaired by Shri. SC Marak, Chairman MSPB was held on Friday in the Main Sectt. to review the Department of Finance and Department of Planning.
The meeting was convened to look into the financial position of the state, to have an overview of the present working arrangment of of Niti Ayog, including implementation of central schemes including central schemes under article 275(1), MSPB meeting 8 July 2016 review of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 Annual plans.
The Finance and Planning Departments gave a slide presentation overview of the States Financial position. From the presentation it was seen that the State Finance and Planning Departments managed to weather the storm due to the NGT coal ban, including the many challenges that were faced by the Department due to the change of Government in the Center, wherein a number of Central Schemes were restructured and some of them delinked.
It was infomed that while the states own Tax revenue and Non Tax Revenue (Actual) was Rs 1282crs, salary Rs 2888crs, Pension Rs515, Interest Rs 405crs, while total expenditure was Rs 7427crs during 2014-15 whereas during 2015-2016 (Pre-Actual) States Own Tax Revenue was Rs 1296crs salary Rs 3004,Pension Rs 588, Interest Rs 466crs, and total expenditure Rs 7617crs, indicating that a large amount was spent on salaries and pension. The breakup of major Revenues from Own Tax (actual) are Sales Tax 726 crs, Excise 151crs, revenue Motor Vehicle 39crs, from Own Non Tax Revenue – Forest & Wildlife 72crs, Mining & Geology 195crs, others Rs 38crs, during 2014-2015, again revenues from Own Tax revenues during 2015-2016 (pre actual) Sales Tax 812 crs, Excise 170crs, revenue Motor Vehicle 42crs, and Own Non Tax Revenues – Forest & Wildlife 72crs, Mining & Geology 61crs, others Rs 56crs,
With regards to using IT technology for the ‘Treasuries” The Departments informed that recently the V-SATs have been activated and TreasuryNET has been implemented for the Treasuries in almost all District Treasuries and Sub-Treasuries in Meghalaya and at the Directorate level in order to supervise and monitor the financial position of the state at the secretariat level. The system is also designed to provide up-to-date Receipt and Expenditure of each department/DDO and also facilitate effective Budget control at the level of Treasuries.
The Central share release during 2013-2014 was Rs 1439crs, and Rs 1341.68crs during 2014-2015, and 1202.99 crore during 2015-2016 wherein the State Government provide the corresponding state share for the above Central Share to be release.
With regards to NITI Aayog, it was stated by the Planning Department that it is chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, which was the same in the past. It is an interface between the States and the Center on a number of policy issues.
It was also informed that it was after a persistent effort by the NE State Government and Chief Ministers that the Government of India agreed to continue with the 90:10 (center:state) for core schemes for the 8 NE states and 3 himalayan states, for other states the sharing pattern is 60:40, for non-core schemes it is 80:20(central:state) for 8 NE States while it is 50:50 for other states.
In 2013-2014 there were137 CSS schemes however as part of restructuring presently there are 66 Centrally Sponsored Schemes and 8 Central Sector Schemes taken up in the Twelfth Five Year Plan period. The departments informed that at present there are 29 Centrally Sponsored Schemes and about 300 Central Sector Schemes.
It was also informed that during 2016-2017 Rs 28.54Cr was allocated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, for which the the grants were utilised for social sectors such as Education, Health, Agriculture, and Agument Tribal Households Economy(income generation) activities.
The Finance Department informed that certain measures were adopted for prudent Financial Management, by introducing economy/austerity measures with exceptions only for certain departments, imposing budgetry cuts under Non Plan, control ofgovernment expenditures through LOA /LOC, avoiding unnecessary expenditure under Non-Plan.
The Chairman, suggested that the State Planning Board would be continuing with review based on details presented by the departments of Finance and Planning, and a follow up and review of physical achievements against sanctioned amounts, and a review meeting will be held with Department of Program Implementation and Evaluation. The Chairman also suggested that the Working groups constituted may further discuss and review the presentation from Finance and Planning relating to their respective sectors and place their observations and reports before the full board.
The Planning Board meeting was attended by Shri. John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairnan, Shri. Adolf Lu Hitler R Marak, Shri Francis P.R. Sangma, Co-Chairman, MSPB, Dr. (Smti) Eureka Lyngdoh, Deputy Chairman, MSPB, Dr. Manash Das Gupta, Deputy Chairman, MSPB, Shri. G Arengh, Dy Chairman, MSPB, Shri. Shri. Y. Tsering, IAS, Addl Chief Secretary, (Presently Incharge CS), Smt. RV Suchiang, IAS, Principal Secretary, Finance, Shri. Sanjay Goyal, IAS, Secretary Finance, Dr. BDR Tiwari, IAS, Secretary, Planning, Under Secretary, MSPB, and other officials.
