Nirmala counters Kerala Government’s charges on denial of funds due to the State
The Hindu
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday countered the Kerala government narrative that the Centre was unjustly withholding funds, blaming the State government for failing to furnish the necessary documents on time to get its money.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday countered the Kerala government narrative that the Centre was unjustly withholding funds, blaming the State government for failing to furnish the necessary documents on time to get its money.
Ms. Sitharaman, addressing a a credit outreach programme organised by banks at Attingal and a business conclave organised by the Kerala Kaumudi in Thiruvananthapuram, said “not one rupee” is held back by the Centre from money due to State governments, provided they furnish the Accountant General’s (AG) certificates to the Finance Ministry on time.
Ms. Sitharaman added that if the Kerala government opted to approach the Court on the issue, it was welcome to do so. “It gives me one more opportunity to put the facts before the court to say this is what the story is really,” she said.
Listing six instances where the centre has been charged with withholding funds, Ms. Sitharaman said no arrears are pending in the case of the social security pensions. A sum of ₹602.14 crore was released in October 2023. “The first request came and we released the money. The second request has not come. There is nothing pending on pensions,” she said.
In the case of the special assistance for capital expenditure, Kerala did not receive the money because it has been changing the name of the schemes. This assistance is being given to States from 2021-22 for 50 years sans interest.
The 7th UGC pay revision arrears were pending as Kerala failed to furnish the required details, Ms. Sitharaman said. The Kerala government sent a proposal “which had a lot of unanswered questions.” The State was directed to furnish a full proposal by March 31, 2022, but it has not done so. “And it may not be possible now to release that central share because you have not furnished that proposal,” she said.
A sum of ₹137 crore was pending in health sector grants, as the State government did not adhere to the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. In the case of the arrears in Goods and Services Tax compensation, the revenue figures have to be cleared by the AG.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.