1 month ago

Kerala CM Claims Finance Commission Misclassified Census Towns

Kerala CM Claims Finance Commission Misclassified Census Towns
Finance Commission Incorrectly Assessed Kerala Census Towns: CM Satheesan · deccanchronicle.com

The Chief Minister of Kerala, V D Satheesan, said that the 16th Finance Commission made a mistake by calling many 'census towns' as urban areas.

This mistake has reduced the money given to rural areas to just Rs 300 crore.

The Chief Minister also said that this has caused problems for local governments in getting money for their plans.

He mentioned that the state government is trying to convince the central government that the mistake was made.

He also said that the first part of the planned money will soon be given to local governments and that there has been no big reduction in planned spending.

The previous government had planned to spend Rs 35,000 crore, but there was a shortfall of Rs 20,000 crore from the central government, so the current government had to reduce the planned expenditure by Rs 5,000 crore.

They kept the money for SC/ST and fishing communities the same.

Key facts

Census Town
A place treated as urban for census purposes but not officially governed as a municipality or municipal corporation.
Fund Reduction
Rs 300 crore
Planned Expenditure Reduction
Rs 5,000 crore
Central Funds Shortfall
Rs 20,000 crore
Previous Planned Expenditure
Rs 35,000 crore

Quotes

V D Satheesan

Chief Minister of Kerala

“"In this manner, the commission has reduced the allocation to rural areas to just Rs 300 crore. However, most of these census towns are in panchayats. As a result, there is no money, from central funds, to be given to such areas as the the allocations from the Centre come with conditions and stipulations."”
deccanchronicle.com

Sources

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