A study team from the Central Ministry of Finance has advised the Nagaland government officials to make efforts to improve state’s planning and finances. According to an official bulletin, the team led by Joint CGA, J.K. Mishra, had a meeting with the Nagaland government officials at the civil secretariat in the chief secretary’s conference hall on April 6, 2016.
Addressing the state government officials, Mishra said the main objective of their visit was to study the ground realities and problems faced by the state especially with regard to financial aspects.
Informing that the fund received by the state was “very scarce”, the joint CGA advised the officials of the state to step up in addressing the issues and problems. He also asserted that the entire scenario of the state’s planning needed to be improved.
Speaking about replacement of Planning Commission with the present system NITI Aayog, Mishra asked what was state’s expectations from NITI Aayong and how it has affected the state’s planning process. Also, speaking at the meeting, Nagaland chief secretary Pankaj Kumar highlighted the state financial pattern and position from inception of the state till date.
Stating that Nagaland came into being in 1963 through 16-point agreement, he said under this agreement, the state’s non-plan was to be borne by the central government.
Kumar said the funding pattern that was changed in 1989 has impacted the state.
Further, he stated that the transition from 13th Finance Commission to 14th Finance commission has improved the state financial position in some ways. However, he pointed out that transition from the Planning Commission to NITI Aayog has not helped the state as expected.
Secretary finance Kikheto Sema gave a power point presentation on the financial aspect of the state. The funding patterns and positions of various departments such as home department on disaster management related issues, medical department, horticulture, ICDS, power department, forest, local governing bodies, urban local bodies were also deliberated.
The visiting team members included J.K. Mishra, Joint CGA; Sanjay Kumar, Director NITI Aayog; Mohan Deep, Senior Accounts Officer; Gopal Prasad, Director, FCD; N.S. Negi, Senior Accounts Officer and Bhaskar Verma, Deputy CGA.
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