Goa Seeks 90:10 CSS Funding at NITI Aayog Meeting

Panaji, June 11 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday requested the Union government to extend the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to the state on 90:10 basis as in the case of Northeastern and Himalayan states.



The chief minister addressed the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi.



The state was grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as under his leadership it has received over Rs 40,000 crore from the Centre for infrastructure development in the last decade, Sawant said.

"I wish to place one request before this Council, not as a grievance, but as a question of equity. Over 60 per cent of Goa's land is under forests, eco-sensitive zones, coastal regulation zones and the Western Ghats," the CM stated during the meeting.

The state hosts over one crore tourists annually which places demands on its infrastructure which are "far beyond what our population of 15 lakh would suggest," he said.




"Yet Goa is assessed alongside states with populations of several crore under CSS funding formula, resulting in lower per-capita expenditure allocations despite significantly higher per-capita service delivery costs," Sawant said.



The chief minister requested the Union government to extend CSS funding on a 90:10 basis, on the lines of that available to Northeastern and Himalayan states.



"And I request the continued support of the State Support Mission as Goa operationalises Viksit Goa @2037," he added.



Sawant praised the PM stating that "we have watched you with pride as you navigated the recent geopolitical turbulence in the Middle East, protecting every Indian citizen abroad, stabilising our energy supply lines, and demonstrating that India's first commitment is always to its people."



"That instinct, to put people first, is exactly what this meeting is about," he said.