30-05-2025
JMM, Cong demand greater support from fin panel, BJP seeks more transparency
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Ranchi: The key ruling coalition partners in the state on Friday appealed to the 11-member 16th Finance Commission team to ensure equitable distribution of resources and curb disparities.
The team has wrapped up its four-day tour of Jharkhand and will leave on Saturday morning.
During their meeting here, JMM general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey and state urban development minister Sudivya Kumar sought "justice" for Jharkhand from the commission through proper financial support and resource allocation.
Pandey said, "More than the grants, it is our right to get proper support and we have made submitted the details to the commission, hoping that they won't disappoint the people of this state."
JMM has pointed out to the commission that most tax collection is done by the Union govt, benefiting larger and more developed states. "Smaller, resource-based states like Jharkhand do not receive an adequate share of the taxes. We have demanded that the share of backward states in tax distribution be increased so they can play an effective role in the country's overall development," Pandey said.
He added, "We have also asked for special assistance under disaster management to stabilise agriculture and the rural economy affected by climate change.
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JMM has also urged the commission to issue special directives to banks to increase loan distribution in the state and boost economic activities."
JMM's ally Congress also made several demands on similar lines. Former finance minister Rameshwar Oraon said the state's share in central taxes (the divisible pool) should be increased to 50%.
A Congress statement said, "More emphasis should be placed on the income gap (the difference between the per capita income of wealthy states and Jharkhand's per capita income).
Since states with more forests face a cost disadvantage in development efforts, there should be more devolution of funds to tide over the financial loss. Moreover, the inclusion of performance indicators in the fund devolution will increase economic disparity among the states.
Therefore, we requested that this criterion be dropped, or at least the weight for demographic performance should be reduced to zero."
Both BJP and Ajsu-P, part of NDA, on the other hand, accused the state govt of financial mismanagement and diversion of funds. They appealed to the commission to ensure transparent accounting of central grants.
"The state govt is not serious about development due to financial mismanagement and corruption over the past five to six years. The state is facing several structural, social and economic challenges, for which special attention from the finance commission is requested. Jharkhand should receive a fair share of the revenue from mining projects. There is a need to implement the PESA Act and conduct municipal elections," Ajsu-P's Praveen Prabhakar said.
BJP further said despite the court's directives Jharkhand couldn't conduct municipal body polls for the last two years and demanded more checks, including funding for 'One Nation, One Election', while deciding on the devolution.
