(a) whether all the hilly States are being given special assistance under the central schemes
especially through industrial packages;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the criteria fixed in this regard;
(c) whether Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are debarred of all those facilities given to
North-Eastern States and J&K, though they are also hilly States;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government for providing uniform assistance to all hilly States?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PARLIMENTARY AFFAIRS AND PLANNING (SHRI RAJEEV SHUKLA)
(a) to (e) : The hilly States which include Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand and States of North Eastern Region have been given the status of Special
Category States (SCS) by the National Development Council. The Normal Central Assistance
(NCA) grant is provided to the Special Category States (SCS) & General Category States
(GCS) in the ratio of 9:7. The Additional Central Assistance for Externally Aided Projects
and Special Plan Assistance are provided to SCS as 90% grant. The State share requirements
for Centrally Sponsored Schemes for these States are usually less than those required for
General Category States. In addition, special dispensation/concessions are also provided
under various development programmes for hilly States including industrial packages.
As regards industrial packages, these have been granted based on different situation
and circumstances and are different for North Eastern States (including Sikkim), Jammu &
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The schemes and entitlement of States vary as
per specifications of different packages, which are also applied for different time periods.