Home Minister Pu Lalchamliana attended the pre-budget consultation meeting held yesterday at NDMC Convention Center, New Delhi. Union Minister for Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the meeting which was held in connection with the forthcoming Union Budget 2020-21.

Pu Lalchamliana raised three areas of concern affecting Mizoram and the North East States such as the insufficiency of funding through the newly implemented North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) which essentially replaced the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR). He suggested that financial assistance through NESIDS which is at present, lower than the NLCPR be increased so that financial gap faced in infrastructure development in the North Eastern States can be filled. Keeping in view the challenges faced in carrying out developmental works in the hilly areas of Mizoram and other north eastern states, he proposed that a separate norm be adopted to meet cost escalation. The Home Minister also suggested streamlining of externally aided projects to ease clearance by forming a Steering Committee under the Central Government.

The Finance Ministers of states and union territories attended the consultation meeting which was organized by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Home Minister Pu Lalchamliana attended the meeting on behalf of the Chief Minister of Mizoram who holds the Finance portfolio.