Chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday demanded more share from the Central taxes for the city. While attending a meeting of chief ministers of north zone states chaired by Union finance minister P. Chidambaram, Ms Dikshit said that Delhi should be treated like a full state for a share in Central taxes.
“Delhi is getting `320 crores annually from last 10 years from the Central taxes. Despite of the less population, the neighbouring state Haryana is getting around `3,000 crores annually from the Central taxes. This practice is unfair as the city generates more tax than other states,” Ms Dikshit said.
Ms Dikshit also sought help of Mr Chidambaram to facilitate direct transfer of cash subsidies and other financial assistance to 30 lakh beneficiaries of various Central and Delhi government-sponsored schemes in the city. Ms Dikshit strongly pushed for direct transfer of cash entitlements into the bank accounts of poor beneficiaries to curb leakages, diversion and corruption.
She requested Mr Chidambaram to remove the “obstacles” in opening no-frill bank accounts by beneficiaries so that the city government can implement its plan of providing them cash subsidies and other grants like old-age pension through electronic fund transfer.
“Poor people have been finding it difficult to open bank accounts as banks have been insisting on documentary proof of the residence despite presentation of Aadhar card,” she said.
She also suggested directing all government banks to put up a notice boards in all their branches stating the procedure and documents required for opening up of no-frill accounts.
“The government has to transfer `1,500 crores to the beneficiaries through electronic fund transfer. We want the banks to put in place a hassle-free process for opening of bank accounts by the poor people,” she said.