Thiruvananthapuram > Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called Central Government’s move to use 2011 census data as the terms of reference for the 15th Finance Commission, ‘a gross injustice’. The new move will adversely affect the South Indian States which have made significant progress in population control and human development, Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on Facebook.
The 15th Finance Commission which is constituted for determining devolution of net proceeds of Union taxes and duties had declared its recommendations to be based on 2011 Census data.
Pinarayi Vijayan’s Facebook Post:
Central Government’s move to use 2011 census data, instead of 1971 census, for determining devolution of net proceeds of Union taxes and duties is a gross injustice. The terms of reference of the Fifteenth Finance Commission makes a significant departure from tradition by changing the base year for population from 1971 to 2011. This will adversely affect the South Indian States, which have made a significant progress in population control and human development. Between 1971 and 2011, Kerala registered among the lowest absolute growth in population in the Country. Presently, Kerala receives only a paltry 25 paisa for every rupee of tax it contributes to the Union, Tamil Nadu’s benefit is a mere 40 and Karnataka gets only 47 paisa. In comparison, Uttar Pradesh receives ₹1.79 for every rupee they contribute. The new move will further aggravate this disparity.
