Scrapping 90:10 funding pattern for special states not fair: Sayeed

New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed said on Friday that dispensing with the 90:10 funding pattern for centrally-sponsored Schemes (CSSs) for special category states will have serious implications for his state which has seen a difficult period since 1947.

Speaking at the NITI Aayog meet here, he said states like his and in the northeast, which have huge locational disadvantages coupled with challenging security scenario, will be severely handicapped if the 90:10 funding pattern is done away with.

"We have seen a turnaround for the better in these states now. The recommendations to change funding pattern and de-link some centrally-sponsored schemes from union support will seriously hamper the implementation of these schemes in a state like ours," he said at the meeting of the sub-Group of 10 Chief Ministers, a think-tank constituted for rationalization of centrally-sponsored Schemes.

While suggesting cutting down CSSs to 17 mega schemes only from the present 66, Sayeed said the other schemes should be wound up and resources subsumed in the kitty of 17 mega schemes.

He also called for implementation of cooperative federalism by considering more decision-making powers and greater devolution of central taxes to the States.