Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau

Haryana CM Saini shares key suggestions for equitable resource allocation at 16th Finance Commission meeting

Commission should introduce a new parameter for devolution of funds suggests CM

Babushahi Bureau

Chandigarh, April 28, 2025: During the meeting of the 16th Finance Commission held here today, the  Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini emphasized the strategic significance of the National Capital Region (NCR) as not just the heartbeat of 142 crore Indians, but also as a global reflection of India's journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.

Advocating for a forward-looking approach, he suggested introducing a new criterion that considers the percentage of a state's area within the NCR for resource allocation.

Additionally, he proposed that the Finance Commission may introduce a new criterion based on the percentage of a state's population serving in the country's armed forces and recommend allocating a corresponding share of central taxes to such state governments to honor and strengthen national security efforts.

In the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding financial matters like tax devolution, resource allocation, and state-specific grants.

Notably, Commission Chairman, Dr. Arvind Panagariya praised Haryana for boasting the second-highest per capita income among major states despite being a small state.

It is commendable to see that in terms of geographical area, though Haryana is small, its contribution to the country's economy is large and pivotal, said Dr. Arvind Panagariya.

The Commission also praised the Chief Minister and his officers for their efforts on sharing the blueprint of the State's own ‘vision document @2047’ for Viksit Bharat.

The Chief Minister said that most Finance Commissions have recommended grants to states based on various criteria.

However, he believes that some states go beyond Centrally Sponsored Schemes, covering more beneficiaries or providing greater assistance to the poor from their own funds.Therefore, the 16th Finance Commission may recommend special State-Specific Grants for such states, he suggested.

Citing an example, the Chief Minister said that  the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Ayushman Bharat YojanaN for medical treatment of poor families.

Under this, only 9 lakh families in Haryana received Ayushman Cards. However, the present state government has expanded the scheme and launched the Chirayu Ayushman Yojana, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

The Chief Minister further shared that under Chirayu, an additional 32 lakh families  having annual income of up to Rs. 1.80 lakh are now receiving health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per year.

Similarly, under the Ujjwala Yojana, 13 lakh families received free gas connections.  Furthermore, under Haryana’s Har Ghar-Har Grihini Yojana, the state government is providing subsidized gas cylinders at Rs. 500 to 15 lakh additional families, informed Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

Citing another example, he said that under the PM Suryaghar Yojana, Haryana is offering an additional Rs. 25,000 per solar system per kilowatt from the state funds, which is beyond the central subsidy.

Triple Engine Government is working in accordance with the standards of inspirational governance, innovation, inclusive development, and social welfare-CM

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, over the past 11 years, on multiple occasions has referred to Haryana as one of the pivotal engines of India’s economy. He said that Triple Engine Government is working in accordance with the standards of inspirational governance, innovation, inclusive development, and social welfare.

The Commission  may recommend a State-Specific Grant for states ensuring MSP-based procurement-CM

The Chief Minister said that Haryana has ensured the procurement of all 24 crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP). This has provided the state  farmers with economic security and stability.

He suggested that the Commission may also consider recommending a State-Specific Grant for states ensuring such MSP-based procurement.

He said that in recent years, many states have taken major initiatives to strengthen local governance. For instance, some states have given 33 percent  and others 37 percent reservation to women in local bodies. Haryana, however, has given 50 percent reservation to women, he said.

The Chief Minister urged the Commission for  inclusion of women’s reservation and educational qualifications for members as parameters in the norms of grants to local bodies in their recommendations for the year 2026-31.

Haryana may be small in size geographically, but stands at the forefront in contribution to the nation-CM

The Chief Minister said that Haryana may be small in size geographically, but stands at the forefront in contribution to the nation. My voice is not just that of a Chief Minister or Finance Minister, but the voice of every citizen of Haryana, he said.

The Chief Minister urges Commission  to grant equitable share to Haryana

The Chief Minister urged the Commission  to grant equitable share to Haryana. He said that he is confident that the historic recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission will make Haryana a proud contributor to the realization of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, and will also pave the way for a brighter future for the entire country.

The Members of the 16th Finance Commission, Smt. Annie George, Sh. Ajay Narayan Jha, Dr. Manoj Panda and Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Chief Secretary, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta,  Commissioner and Secretary, Information Public Relations Languages and Culture Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Director General, Information Public Relations Languages and Culture Department, Sh. K. M Pandurang, Director General, Urban Local Bodies, Sh. Pankaj and all the Administrative Secretaries remained present in the meeting.