The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Alhuwalia, said on Monday that the Centre would consider granting more freedom to the state for implementing centrally sponsored schemes and for better utilization of central funds.
Talking to reporters here Dr Alhuwalia said the state should not suffer just because it had achieved the development criteria fixed by the Centre for various schemes.
He said the Centre would consider the state government’s demand for inclusion of dairy development under the NRGES, relaxation in criteria fixed for the funds provided under the NRHM and Pradhan Manthri Gramin Sadak Yojana.
Dr Alhuwalia asked the government to submit a proposal for inclusion of dairy development under the NREGES. “I will take up the matter with the rural development minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh.”
He said Kerala was a globalised Indian state. “I agree that there should be greater flexibility to enable developed states like Kerala to benefit from the centrally sponsored schemes. Most of the Central schemes are devised with a focus on the backward states and to help them to catch up with developed ones. This is part of the process to remove regional inequality.”
Dr Alhuwalia said there was no hurdle in the Kochi Metro Project. "I will visit Kochi on Tuesday to see the progress of the project.”
Meanwhile, the chief minister, Oommen Chandy, said that Dr Alhuwalia had given a sympathetic hearing to the state’s demands.