New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is reportedly considering special economic grants to around six states, including Odisha, amid demands for special category status.
The Narendra Modi-led government may consider giving special economic grants to nearly six states that fall short in the index of developments, TNIE reported quoting officials.
Bihar is one these six states that may get consolidated special economic grants in the forthcoming budget for sector-wise developments.
The other states likely to get such grants include Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and the Union Territory of J&K, the report said.
Notably, Odisha has been pitching for special category status for the last several years. Similar demands have also been made by several other states, including Bihar.
The demand for special status for Odisha has been made for a long time based on its poor economic status and a major part of it being prone to natural disasters.
Special category status to any state is not now feasible after NITI Aayog has formulated some guidelines.
Reacting to the proposed special grants, senior BJD leader and former Minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu said the regional party under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik has been demanding special category status for many years.
Stating that the demand was also made when BJD was in alliance with BJP, he said no step was taken by the Centre in this regard.
On special grants proposed to be made in the upcoming Union budget, the BJD leader said it will be known only after the budget is presented in Parliament.
He further said that the regional party will continue to press for special category status for Odisha. Now that the BJP government in the state also claims that it is committed to speedy development of the state, the Centre should seriously consider it, the BJD leader added.
