Ranchi, Sep 19: A call has been made for greater financial support to economically weaker states, including Jharkhand, arguing that India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 cannot be achieved without balanced social and economic development across states.
The statement said the concept of a developed India should go beyond economic indicators and include improvements in healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure and social development.
It argued that per capita income and other macroeconomic indicators alone do not provide a complete picture of economic well-being, particularly when income distribution and ground-level socio-economic conditions are taken into account.
The statement highlighted the need to strengthen rural and agricultural sectors, noting the importance of irrigation, dairy, fisheries, animal husbandry and horticulture in supporting rural livelihoods. It also stressed the need for adequate investment in primary, higher and technical education as well as healthcare.
On Jharkhand, the statement alleged that changes in central policies and financial arrangements had resulted in significant potential revenue losses for the state. It estimated the overall financial impact at around Rs 20,000-22,000 crore and claimed that changes relating to mineral taxation could have a substantial bearing on the state’s finances.
It also referred to an estimated outstanding amount of Rs 1.36 lakh crore from coal companies, saying provisions related to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act could affect the state’s ability to pursue such claims.At the same time, the statement cited several indicators of Jharkhand’s fiscal performance.
It said the state had secured a place in the NITI Aayog’s “Achiever” category, maintained a significant share of own-tax revenue in total revenue and kept its fiscal deficit below 3 per cent of GSDP.It further claimed that Jharkhand had maintained relatively high capital expenditure, kept its debt level below 25 per cent of GSDP and managed its interest burden.
The statement urged the Centre to restore the state’s authority to impose a cess on mining activities in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions. It also sought compensation for losses arising from GST-related tax changes.
Another demand was for a revision in the Centre-state funding ratio under the G-RAM-G scheme for backward states, from the proposed 60:40 arrangement to the earlier 90:10 pattern.
The statement maintained that strengthening financially weaker states through greater cooperation and financial support would be essential for achieving the broader objective of a developed India by 2047.
