FM Sitharaman rejects Kerala's fund neglect claims, highlights timely disbursement
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday dismissed allegations by Kerala's Left government of negligence in fund allocation and claimed that the Central government promptly sends the required funds to the people of the southern state without any delay. Responding to the Left government's allegations of not releasing funds under various categories, she pointed fingers at the state government, alleging that it was due to the state's failure to meet the necessary criteria.
Criticising the ruling CPI(M)-led alliance, which has announced a protest in New Delhi in January against the alleged neglect by the Central government, the finance minister claimed that the highest amount of Finance Commission Grants has been released to Kerala from 2009-10 to 2023-24 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
«Under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), all the pending liabilities and the first tranche of 2023-24, covering senior citizen pensions, amounting to Rs 602.14 crore has already been released to Kerala in October 2023,» the finance minister said.
She said this while addressing the Credit Outreach Programme organised at nearby Attingal.
«On the issue regarding 7th UGC pay revision, the Ministry of Education has informed that the Scheme of 50 per cent Central share (7th CPC), through reimbursement was given to those state governments who adopted and implemented the revised pay scales as per the 7th CPC, subject to fulfillment of all the conditions laid down in the scheme and submission of the complete proposal as per the guidelines on or before 31st March, 2022.
»The Kerala government didn't fulfill the requisite conditions; hence the funds couldn't be released," Sitharaman said.
She said since
