Demand for Special Category Status for Odisha, Bihar to Intensify, May Create Hurdle for the NDA Government
Patnaik is to intensify the demand of special category status to Odisha and will hold massive signature campaigns
New Delhi, June 20: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is keen to get a Special Category status for his state according to media reports. Although Patnaik did not turn up for the recent NITI Ayog meeting, he reportedly pressed his demand with PM Narendra Modi once again through a letter. The state's backwardness and high percentage of Schedule Tribe and Scheduled Caste (ST-SC) population are cited to be the reasons behind the demand.
"With high percentage of population belonging to the Schedule Tribes and Scheduled Castes and the state facing frequent natural calamities, Odisha deserves to be accorded 'special category status' to fast-track its ongoing development and may be treated at par with North-Eastern and Himalayan states for the sharing pattern of Centrally Sponsored Schemes," Patnaik said in the letter.
Reportedly, similar demands were earlier made to the PM by CMs of other states like Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh and CM Nitish Kumar of Bihar. The Chandrababu Naidu-led Telegu Dessan Party also broke the alliance with NDA over the same reason. Even Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is said to unhappy with the NDA as he too wishes to get special status for his state, which is the reason behind rising conflict among BJP and Nitish Kumar party.
As per reports, Patnaik is to intensify the demand of special category status to Odisha and will hold massive signature campaigns. Earlier, erstwhile president Pranab Mukherjee received one crore such signatures.
Why Demand Special Category Status for the State?
The centre pays 90 percent of the funds required in a centrally-sponsored scheme to special category status states as against 60 percent in case of normal category states, while the remaining funds are provided by the state governments.
In the Indian constitution, there is no provision to grant special category to a state, however, based on certain conditions, the fourteen finance commission does allow for the same. Conditions such as difficult and hilly terrain, low population density or a sizeable share of tribal population, strategic location along borders, economic and infrastructural backwardness, and non-viable nature of state finances can warrant the special status. Reportedly, the NITI Aayog, which has replaced the Planning Commission, has no power to allocate funds — therefore, the discretion that the ruling party at the centre had to dole out special favours to states through the plan panel, no longer exists.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 20, 2018 05:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).