Guwahati, February 17 The Assam government said on Tuesday that it has seen a steady decline in central government and Finance Commission grants over the last four fiscal years, prompting opposition parties to accuse the Centre of adopting a "stepmotherly" attitude towards the state.
Responding on behalf of the Finance Minister to a question by Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi during Question Hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that the state had received ₹30,326 crore as a central grant in 2021-22, which fell to ₹21,250 crore in 2024-25 (pre-estimate).
Similarly, the Finance Commission grant also decreased gradually from ₹8,916 crore to ₹1,356 crore during the same period.
Public debt increased from ₹14,896 crore in 2021-22 to ₹30,673 crore (pre-estimate) in 2024-25.
Gogoi maintained that these figures indicate that the state has not been receiving adequate financial support from the Centre, while its own debts have been mounting.
Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia of the Congress said that the decrease in central allocation is a serious matter and demanded a special sitting of the Assembly to discuss the issue.
CPI(M) legislator Manoranjan Talukdar also expressed concern at the decline in central allocation.
Patowary claimed that the state was yet to receive the two installments of the 15th Finance Commission, and once they are released, the figures will increase.
He also maintained that the state has been able to maintain its debt-GSDP ratio within permissible limits.
However, the opposition members created a noisy scene in the House, claiming that the Centre is "neglecting the state and adopting a stepmotherly attitude towards it".
Gogoi walked into the Well of the House, leading Speaker Biswajit Daimary to suspend him for the duration of the Question Hour.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, speaking after the Independent MLA was suspended, said that Assam has maintained its debt:GSDP ratio and was recognized as the fastest-growing economy in the country by the Reserve Bank of India.
He maintained that the state will surpass West Bengal in per capita income by next year.