Shillong, June 1: The budget earmarked for the small-scale industry and tourism sectors is expected to be hiked with the 12th Finance Commission showing interest in augmenting the budgetary allocation of these sectors in Meghalaya. A team of the 12th Finance Commission is currently in Shillong on a two-day visit to assess the state’s financial growth and needs during the next Five-Year Plan period.
The team, headed by C. Rangarajan, met ministers and state government representatives and members of industry and commerce organisations.
While the commission members did not disclose the discussions they had today with members of the state government and organisations representing the industrial sector, the proposals for promoting small-scale industries vis-?-vis tourism are reported to have created a “telling impression” on the commission members.
However, the industry department was reportedly asked to provide a clearer picture of the utilisation of central funds during the past five years.
The industry department’s policies came in for sharp criticism from several quarters in the state and continue to be the subject of intense public debate.
Allegations have been levelled over the industry department’s “arbitrary approvals” for central grants to a few individuals as well as some “questionable policy decisions”.
Some organisations are planning to take these up “very seriously”.
The 12th Finance Commission is also reported to have evinced interest in proposals by district councils minister Tony Curtis Lyngdoh for shoring up the financial position of the three district councils in Meghalaya.
“I have placed my proposals before the commission to strengthen the three district councils. I am sure that it is a good case to make before the commission, which is here to study the needs of the state for the next financial plan outlay,” Lyngdoh said.
He gave the impression that the district councils could also play a key role in acting as an implementing agency for central government schemes.
Other sectors that are likely to get topmost priority are information technology, health and agriculture.
Earlier, finance commission recommendations had helped the state in making up the huge deficits and concentrating on promoting sectors like agriculture and information technology.
The commission is scheduled to meet representatives of all the state government departments before holding a meeting with chief minister D.D. Lapang, finance minister Donkupar Roy and other cabinet members of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.
A meeting between the commission members and the state government is scheduled to start at 8 am tomorrow.