Delayed fund disbursal hampers implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Tamil Nadu, says Stalin in a letter to Union Minister.
Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin urged the Union Government to release the funds for the Centrally Sponsored Schemes within the stipulated time frame to enable the State Government to implement the welfare schemes more efficiently.
In a letter to Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapoorna Devi on Tuesday, Stalin sought her early intervention in expediting the release of the funds for Tamil Nadu, which has been implementing all Centre-sponsored schemes efficiently with the State releasing its share of funds on time.
Referring to Annapoorna Devi’s letter of January 31, ‘wherein it has been stated that a sum of Rs.716.05 Cr is lying unspent in the SNA accounts as of 29.01.2025 under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) viz., Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya,’ he pointed out that the Union Government’s share was most often released only at the fag end of the quarter or the subsequent quarters.
'Among the total SNA account unspent balance of Rs 576.22 crore the major share of Rs 409.17 crore is in the Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0, for which the release for the 4th quarter of the year 2023–2024 was done only on 26th March 2024. Similarly, in respect of Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakthi, a major chunk of the fourth quarter release for the year 2023-2024 has happened only during April and May of 2024,’ Stalin said.
It was not possible to utilize such huge amounts within the closure of the financial year and hence the funds had to be carried over to the next financial year 2024–2025 and the cascading effect of the above trend was observed in every quarter, he said.
‘As regards, Pradhan Mantri Mathru Vandhana Yojana (PMMVY), the total budgeted amount is Rs. 304.00 Cr, of which the Central Share is Rs.184.00 Cr (60%) and the State share is Rs. 120.00 Cr. As per the guidelines of PMMVY Scheme, the State share shall be deposited after the credit of the Central Share. However, for the last 2 years (2023–2024 and 2024-2025), not even a single release has been done towards the Central share. As on date, an amount of Rs.30.65 Cr is available in the SNA and this amount could not be credited to the beneficiaries due to API issues,’ he said.
Of the Rs 576.22 crore available in the SNA accounts it was expected that a sum of Rs 482.80 crore would be utilized before the end of this financial year and the balance, along with the Government of India share to be released would be carried forward to the next financial year, the Chief Minister clarified.
