States to Centre: Make Niti Aayog monitoring agency for CSS

Government's think-tank Niti Aayog will soon evaluate the performance of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), if the Centre accepts the recommendations made by the states collectively. The Sub-Group of the Chief Ministers on 'Rationalisation of CSS' has also suggested that Niti Aayog should also emerge as a platform where issues impacting the implementation of such schemes can be addressed, sources said. The measures as suggested by the Sub-Group will help in redefining Niti Aayog's role, post reincarnation from the erstwhile Planning Commission, they added.

It will also take the government's policy evaluating arm closer to its earlier role of acting as a bridge between states and the Centre to negotiate the annual plan allocation expenditure and its spending by the states. Formed in March this year, the Sub-Group chaired by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, looks into the CSS structure and suggests measures to streamline their implementation as well as recommend ways for more effective coordination between the Centre and states. The Sub-Group comprises of Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar.

Besides recommending reducing the CSS for the present 66 to a maximum of 30, the Sub-Group also called for it to reflect the priorities of the National Development Agenda. It also suggested dividing the schemes into broad categories -- Core of the Core, Core and Optional -- reflecting their importance vis-a-vis the National Development Agenda, a senior government official said. 'Core of the Core' schemes will include major development initiatives such as MNREGA, National Social Assistance Programme and schemes for development of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and minorities, he added.

Development programmes like Housing for All, Smart Cities, Urban Rejuvenation programmes, National Livelihood Mission will be part of the 'Core' schemes, the official said. The states have proposed a funding patter of 90 perrent assistance from the Centre and 10 percent states in the case of the 8 North Eastern and Himalayan states for 'Core of the Core' and 'Core' schemes. For 'Optional', the Centre will contribute 80 per cent and the remaining will come from the states.

For other states, in the case of 'Core of the Core' and 'Core' schemes, the Centre's contribution will be 60 per cent and for 'Optional', it will contribute 50 per cent of the financial assistance.