Bhubaneswar: Odisha will lose if the 15th Finance Commission takes the current population criterion based on the 2011 census for devolution of tax to the states.

The states, which have undertaken population control measures seriously, will be severely affected.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have the census data of 1971 used by the 15th Finance commission instead of the 2011 data for this purpose.

In his letter, Naveen said: "Population criterion is a very important factor in determination of share of a state in the divisible pool. In order to encourage the states to stabilise population, successive National Population Policy Statements have taken the 1971 Census population level as the basis for devolution, grant-in-aid as well as other incentives. Even the number of representatives in the Lok Sabha (on the basis of population) have been frozen at 1971 Census level through successive constitutional amendments, the last being the 84th Constitutional amendment whereby the freeze was extended until 2026."

He said: "In this context, the terms of reference for 15th Finance Commission asking the use of 2011 census data is contrary to National Population Policy statement and the assurances to states which have actively implemented population stabilisation measures. It will have a huge adverse impact on our share in devolution as Odisha is already below the Population Replacement Rate of 2.1 indicating that we have stabilised our population. We demand that population data of 1971 Census be used by the 15th Finance Commission while making its recommendations."

Naveen said: "There is no incentive for the states which have achieved the replacement rate of population growth. On the contrary, they will lose out as the population data of 2011 Census will be used by the commission unless the terms of reference are suitably amended."

Naveen raised the issue of special-category state status for Odisha with Modi.

"Odisha has been demanding special category status for a long time," Naveen said.

He said how the state had been making relentless efforts to reduce poverty and improve human development indicators such as literacy, infant mortality, maternal mortality, nutrition, health, drinking water and other social infrastructure in the state.

Naveen said though there has been a high percentage of population belonging to scheduled tribe and scheduled castes, many central schemes such as special plan for KBK, IAP for LWE affected districts, Backward Region Grant Fund have been discontinued. "Our repeated requests for allowing our state to avail sharing pattern in the centrally-sponsored schemes at par with the northeastern and Himalayan states have also not been accepted. This issue needs urgent consideration," he said.