By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 21, 2916 : Odisha finance minister Pradip Amat on Monday informed the State Assembly that drastic slash in Central assistance under several Centrally sponsored programmes has put an extra burden on the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 3887 crore.

During a discussion in the House, the minister said the state’s share has increased in 36 welfare schemes.

“Of the major flagship centrally sponsored schemes, the Centre has slashed funding to Mid-day Meal (MDM), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Sarba Siksha Abhijan (SSA) while it has stopped funding in eight other Central schemes which has forced the state government to run these programmes out of its own resources,” Amat pointed out.

He also said the state government owes Rs 2500 crore to the Centre on Goods and Services Tax (GST), he added.

Odisha government has all along been been maintaining that though the 14th Finance Commission has recommended for more devolution, the state in real terms is getting less allocation which has adversely affected the resource position of the state.