CHANDIGARH: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Thursday, demanded Central assistance for the hill state along the lines of the aid granted to the NorthEast. And various other issues related to the state, particularly the funding pattern of Centrally-sponsored schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid -Day Meal Scheme also figured in the talks between the two leaders.
According to Virbhadra, the Centre had been providing funds to the special category states on Centrally-sponsored schemes, particularly the NorthEast states, in the 90:10 proportion
He requested that the Centre should adopt a similar pattern in case of Himachal Pradesh so that the expectations and aspirations of people of the hill state could be fulfilled. The CM also briefed Jaitley on the commendable work done by the state in the field of education, particularly in imparting education to the girls and also in implementing all the centrally-sponsored schemes in health and education.
Highlighting the developmental road map of the state, he said that there was vast potential in the field of hydro and tourism sectors which needed to be exploited with the help and intervention of different funding agencies.
Jaitley, on his part, assured all possible help to the state and also appreciated the efforts of state government to maintain the pace of development and implementation of Central schemes in the state.