Bhubaneswar, Mar 16: In a view of the lack of central assistance, development activities at 18 backward districts has been badly affected. Speaking at the assembly, Planning & Convergence minister Usha Devi said, the Central Government has shut down at least eight schemes since 2015-16 and due to this, the state has been deprived of availing Central assistance of about Rs 1854 crore per annum.
The schemes of Central Government like the NEGAP, Backward Region Grant Funds, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sasaktikaran Abhijan, Scheme for Setting up of 6000 Model Schools at blocks at Benchmark of Excellence, National Scheme for Modernisation of Police and other Forces, National Mission on Food Processing, Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development for Exports and Tourist Infrastructure, have been permanently closed down by the Central government in 2015-16.
