Shillong, July 11: There has been a 572% increase in tax devolution to Meghalaya between 2014-2024 compared to 2004-2014) and the state receivef Rs 48,883 crore.
“Between 2004 to 2014, Rs 7273 crore was devolved to Meghalaya. But between 2014 – 2024, it was Rs 48,883,which is nearly 572% increase”, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters on Friday.
Grants-in-aid
She said the grants-in-aid to Meghalaya also increased, with Rs 40,452 crore received between 2014-2024, compared to Rs 19,700 crore in the previous decade.
SASCI
The Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme has provided significant funding to Meghalaya, as the state has received Rs 5,471 crore as part of the Rs 5.3 lakh crore allocated to all states.
“North Eastern region alone has received Rs 40,804 crore from this Rs 5.3 lakh crore. Meghalaya alone is Rs 5471 crore. So, every state in the NE has received this money as an interest free amount for 50 years which they can spend on capital asset building,” she said.
The scheme has enabled states to build capital assets, with Meghalaya benefiting from the funding, Sitharaman said.
She added that the scheme has promoted transparency and accountability, with all states now using a public account system to track fund utilization.
She said 18 states have reduced wastage of land in industrial areas, 22 states are now allowed to have hostels in industrial zones and 28 states are building hostels for working women including Meghalaya, the foundation of which was laid.
“25000 old government vehicles have been scrapped. So polluting vehicles belonging to the government have all been scrapped as part of the Tied fund of SASCI. More than 90% of land maps have been digitized and georeferenced. 91% of all land rights records are digitized. This is a very people friendly step because in rural areas, people own one piece of land also they don’t have proper paper documentation in their hand. Even if they own that land, they cannot even go to the bank and say look , keep this paper, give me some money, I want to do some business. That was also achieved through the SASCI.”
The minister said incentives were given to 22 states, who have achieved over 10% growth in their own capital expenditure
“So SASCI has actually helped states to build assets, which they wouldn’t have been in a position to build for the next 10 years also without that money coming in,” she said.
The Centre is also helping states to get externally aided projects from World Bank or ADB’s assistance.
“Why do we need all that? We need it because it comes with technical expertise and when they come, they come for benefiting communities with these infrastructure projects For instance, in Assam, so many projects are getting completed and because of that, the mobility of people has also increased, people are able to come from different parts of the states to the state’s capital and do business. So is the case with Maharashtra, so is the case with Tamil Nadu, externally aided projects have come off with great help,” she said.
Regarding PM’s Internship Programme, Sitharaman said that the initiative has provided internship opportunities to youth in the North East, with 3660 opportunities posted across the region, including 114 in Meghalaya.
She also stressed on the government’s focus on Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) .
The government has formed 67 FPOs in Meghalaya, providing financial support, training, and handholding to farmers. These FPOs have achieved success, with some having a turnover of over Rs 1 crore’ she added.
