Tamil Nadu demands half of central taxes as CM Stalin attends Niti Aayog meet after three years

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday sought the Centre to enhance the state’s share in central taxes to 50 per cent and also indicated the necessity for a dedicated urban transformation mission in the state.

 

 

“The high amount of funds spent by the state government on the projects introduced by the union government is causing a huge burden. It would be appropriate to increase the share of the states in the Union revenue by 50 per cent,” Stalin said in his speech.

 

 

Criticising the centre’s fiscal distribution Stalin said that Tamil Nadu receives only 33.16 per cent of its entitled share in central taxes, despite a commitment of 41 per cent. He also added that the union government should extend its support equitably, without any discrimination, to help states like Tamil Nadu achieve developmental goals. 

 

 

Stating that Tamil Nadu recorded the highest growth rate in the country at 9.69 per cent, he said the state is striving to achieve a 4.5 trillion-dollar economy for the country by 2047 – the centenary of India’s independence. “I assure you of Tamil Nadu’s strong contribution to India’s target of becoming a 30-trillion-dollar economy.”

 

 

On the lines of AMRUT 2.0, he also stressed on the need for a dedicated urban transformation mission, as Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India and also the necessity to create better infrastructure. “A big project with a large amount of funds is necessary for the development of urban areas in the country. There is an urgent need to create a new urban renewal project focusing on better infrastructure, mobility and health. You should create such a project soon,” he pointed out. A Clean Ganga-style project for Cauvery, Vaigai and Thamirabarani, with names in English for national coherence and regional pride, he added.

 

 

Stressing on the need for the funds under the Samagara Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme the chief minister said that the SSA funds have been withheld for the states which did not sign MoUs with the ministry of education for the PM SHRI Schools programme. He pointed out that funds to the tune of ₹ 2,200 crore is denied to Tamil Nadu by the union government. 

 

 

“This has adversely affected children studying in government schools and those enrolled under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. I strongly urge that these funds be released without delay or the imposition of unilateral conditions,” Stalin noted in his speech.

 

 

Stalin, who had skipped the Niti Aayog meeting for the past three years, attended the governing council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday. Stalin’s visit to Delhi comes at a time when the DMK is in a tight spot due to the ongoing Enforcement Directorate searches in connection with the alleged ₹ 1000 crore scam in Tamil Nadu’s liquor sales. 

 

 

His visit has been criticised by the opposition saying it is only to please the Centre from “relieving the DMK and his son from the clutches of the ED.” AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami criticised saying that Stalin was symbolically going with a white flag in his hand to save his family from the ED raids and the consequent arrests.

India