Despite complaining of resource crunch, several states ignored additional borrowing scheme

States like West Bengal, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Mizoram and Nagaland did not pick a single penny from the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme that could have brought Rs 2.14 lakh additional funds.

Despite facing a severe financial crunch and lack of resources due to the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic, several states did not avail of the conditional additional borrowing announced by the Centre under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package. States like West Bengal, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Mizoram and Nagaland did not pick a single penny from the scheme that could have brought Rs 2.14 lakh additional funds. Eventually, 23 states drew barely half of the total Rs 1.06 lakh crore worth additional conditional borrowing. On the other hand, states like Kerala, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh -- ruled by Opposition parties -- complied with every condition required to secure the additional funds. Goa and Uttarakhand were the only BJP-ruled states that met all the reform criteria to draw full benefit. States like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Haryana benefited partially.