Lack of Central assistance affecting development activities: Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government today said developmental activities were affected in 18 backward districts of the state due to lack of Central assistance.

"The state has been deprived of availing Central assistance of Rs 1854.05 crore per annum. Now the state has been deprived of such assistance as the Central government completely stopped at least eight schemes since 2015-16," Planning and Convergence minister Usha Devi said in the assembly.

The minister said the affected districts comprised undivided KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region of the state.

The schemes which have been delinked from Central assistance since 2015-16 were: NEGAP, Backward Region Grant Funds, National Scheme for Modernisation of Police and other Forces, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sasaktikaran Abhijan, Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development for Exports, Scheme for Setting up of 6000 Model Schools at blocks at Benchmark of Excellence, National Mission on Food Processing and Tourist Infrastructure, the minister informed the assembly.