Finance panel terms: Southern states meet today

trivandrum — Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac has persuaded other southern states to join hands against the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission (FC) that are seen as hampering the prospects of states that have kept a check on population growth.

The matter will be discussed at a day-long meeting, to be held in the state capital on Tuesday, in which ministers and officials from the other states would also participate.

“The policy of sharing central funds with states was hitherto done based on the 1971 census. Now the 2011 census will be taken, and if that happens, Kerala — as well as a few south Indian states — would be the worst affected as our population growth was just 56 per cent as compared to 150 per cent in certain states in the country.

“If 2011 is going to be used, Kerala will lose Rs 20,000 crore in five years, while Tamil Nadu stands to lose Rs40,000 crore,” said Issac. All BJP-ruled states — Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh — will gain, he added.

Issac said the states should be given the freedom to decide on what they need and not be dictated to. “We have no issues regarding the composition of the 15th FC as we do not wish to take on personalities. Instead, we should be given the freedom to decide what we need,” the economist-turnedpolitician said. “When I spoke to my counterparts in south India, all of them, with the exception of Telangana, have confirmed their participation in the day-long meeting to be held here tomorrow,” he added. The meeting would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. “Every state will be allowed to present their case and, at the end of the day, there could well be a joint communique,” said Issac. —