FOCUSS to submit a memorandum to Fince Ministry

BUDGETARY CUTS

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Feb 16: The Forum of Council’s Under Sixth Schedule (FOCUSS) in a meeting held at the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Thursday has taken a resolution to submit a memorandum to the Fince Ministry requesting the central government to reconsider the reduced budget for 2016-17 and to enhance the budget provision for 2017-18.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), North Cachar Hills District Council (NCHDC) and Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

FOCCUS in the meeting had also decided to include ADCs falling under the Seventh Schedule of the state government within Assam and Manipur as associate members.

It may be mentioned that in 2016-17, the Central government had budgeted Rs. 1000 crore for the ADCs but this year the revised budget for 2016-17 is only Rs. 1 crore at the same time the budget provision for 2017-18 from Rs. 1000 crores it has been revised to Rs. 500 crores.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Chairman of FOCCUS P N Syiem said, “We have decided that we will submit a memorandum on this issue to request the central government to reconsider the reduced budget for 2016-17 and to enhance the budget provision for 2017-18 so that we can achieve the objective of the people.”

He said the Fince Ministry should also issue an instruction or guideline at the time when the centre releases the funds to the state government so that the state government should release the fund immediately within the time frame to the ADCs so that the District Council can implement the scheme at the earliest.

He informed that by the end of February, FOCCUS will complete the drafting of the memorandum and by first week of March the delegation led by the Chairman will be able to submit the memorandum in Delhi. The meeting of FOCCUS has urged all the CMs and MPs under the Sixth Schedule that they should also write to the Minister of Fince to give their support on the request made by the ADCs to the central government to enhance the allocation for all the ADCs.