Before the Union Budget is presented, the Manipur Government has sent a wish list to the Center that includes demands for additional funds above and beyond the 10% typically set aside from gross budgetary support for North-East states. This includes
- funding for 5,000 housing units for victims of violence as a special project under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), and
- raised funding for security-related expenditures, which have increased dramatically in the wake of the ethnic violence.
Sources claim that these issues were brought up with the Finance Ministry at the pre-budget meeting between the Center and the states.
It has been discovered that one of the main requests of the state is the restoration of infrastructure, particularly the residences that have been damaged by the rampant violence. Manipur is advocating for this to be done as a specific project under the PMAY. To meet this need, the state has also communicated with the Home Ministry and has requested "sufficient funds" in the Union Budget.
Manipur has made additional demands, such as raising the professional tax upper limit from Rs 2,500 to Rs 50,000 annually and keeping the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment in place to assist the state in meeting vital capital expenditures in resource-constrained sectors.
Citing the turmoil in the state that is obstructing the movement of people and commodities and slowing down the development of projects undertaken under the plan, it has also requested an extension of the deadline until July 31 for the use of money provided under this scheme as a one-time relaxation. Reports suggest that the state also mentioned that last month's hailstorm and Cyclone Remal's flooding caused damage to nearly 40,000 homes. It has called for sufficient funding for relief efforts in the wake of these natural catastrophes in the Budget. According to officials, Manipur has benefited greatly from the Center's special grant for "economic loss and recovery," prompt money releases, and leniency in the deadlines for Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
Inputs: Agencies
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