Hyderabad: The Telangana state government has readied a big wish-list, seeking funds and projects for the state’s new districts under various Central schemes. The wish-list will be submitted to the Centre next week.
A delegation comprising all TRS MPs will meet Union ministers and secretaries of various ministries in New Delhi between November 7 and 9 and submit proposals seeking funds for the new districts under district-specific schemes.
TRS floor leader in Lok Sabha, A.P. Jithender Reddy, who will lead the delegation, said, “This tour has been planned as per the directions of the Chief Minister. The Centre implements various schemes and sanctions funds by taking district as a unit and the CM is keen that all the new districts benefit from this.”
Mr Reddy said the delegation will also seek allotment of additional IAS and IPS officers to meet the needs of new districts. Prior to creation of the new districts, the Centre had notified nine of the 10 erstwhile districts (except Hyderabad), as ‘backward areas’, and announced Rs 50 crore for each district, a total of Rs 450 crore.
“Since 21 new districts have been created out of the erstwhile nine backward districts, they too are eligible for the Centre’s grants. We want the Centre to extend '50 crore grant to each of the 21 new districts,” said Mr S. Venugopala Chary, special representative of the TS government in New Delhi.
Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma also held a meeting with heads of all departments on Wednesday to finalise proposals in this regard. It was decided to seek 18 Kendriya Vidyalayas, 21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and 105 KGBV schools, and make an allotment of '484 crore to fund various health schemes etc.
Mr Sharma sought district-wise and population-wise statistics that would be submitted to the NITI-Aayog for approval. Officials were asked to list Central schemes and funds, which are being implemented by taking district as a unit.
The government hopes to get Rs 1,000 crore financial assistance from Centre this year with the creation of new districts.
