Most of the states have been lagging in utilising the funds allocated this fiscal under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), a centrally-sponsored scheme run by the panchayati raj ministry for addressing the issues of regional imbalances in 250 backward districts in the country.
The latest data complied by the ministry of panchayati raj indicate that only two states?Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have utilised substantial sum against the allocated amount. Andhra Pradesh had spent Rs 180.4 crore against the release of Rs 351 crore during the current fiscal while Uttar Pradesh has utilised Rs 280 crore against sanction of Rs 579 crore.
States such as Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Orissa have utilised only Rs 22.4 crore, Rs 78 crore and Rs 23.9 crore, respectively, against much higher allocation by the ministry. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have not spent any money under BRGF.
The rest of states have been rather slow in utilising money meant for bridging critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development needs which could not be met through other social sector programmes. Under BRGF which was launched in 2006-07, each district gets around Rs 10 crore per annum for developing basic infrastructure at panchayat levels while Rs 1 crore per annum is allocated fro training of elected representatives in panchayats.
Senior official with panchayati raj ministry said the states have been slow in forming the District Planning Committee (DPCs), which is mandatory for getting BRGF funds. Meanwhile, CP Joshi, minister for panchayati raj, said only 22 states have constituted DPCs for ensuring that bottom up planning takes place at the grassroots. ?As BRGF allocations are not substantial in comparison to Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, thus states have reluctant in taking full advantage of the scheme,? Manoj Rai, director, Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), told FE.
Recently critical review process of BRGF initiated by National Institute for Development (NIRD) said the planning exercise, as envisaged under scheme ?is fraught with deficiencies?. ?There has been a lack of understanding of the participatory planning process. In many states there are parallel planning exercises happening,? NIRD paper said. The then Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY) had been subsumed into the BRGF programme and the government had released Rs 1,925 crore, Rs 3,597 crore and Rs 3889 crore to states during 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively.