Patna, May 15: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi today demanded implementation of the BK Chaturvedi Committee’s recommendation to reduce the number of centrally sponsored schemes.

Speaking on the sidelines of his weekly janata darbar, Modi said: “Most of the states have agreed on implementing the BK Chaturvedi committee’s report on the centrally sponsored schemes. The panel has suggested a cut down in the number of schemes from 147 to 59. Instead of announcing plenty of schemes, the Centre should only focus on the growth in rural areas, education and the health sector.”

Sharing the details of the committee’s recommendations, Modi said: “The report suggests to abolish the schemes having annual budget of less than Rs 100 crore. Besides, the central government should earmark 20 per cent of its budget allocation as ‘flexi fund’ so that the states could use it according to their requirement and demand in the other schemes.”

“The report also suggests that the states should enjoy the flexibility to change schemes. At present, we are not authorised to make any changes in the centrally sponsored schemes. In addition to it, new schemes of Twelfth Five Year Plan should not be less than Rs 10,000 crore,” he said.

Modi said the state government would pressurise the Centre to implement the recommendation of the committee as early as possible.