State finances in bad shape, Vijayvargiya warns:Says election-driven announcements strained budgets, increasing dependence on Central assistance for development

According to Kailash Vijayvargiya, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, the state fiscal position has deteriorated significantly. Numerous statements were made as a result of political and electoral pressures, which had an immediate impact on the state governments’ financial status. According to him, state governments now have to focus more on the center as a result. Vijayvargiya said this at the regional meeting of Urban Development Ministers (Northern and Central States) organized on Saturday under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. This meeting was held at the Kushabhau Thackeray Convention Center. Working towards a self-reliant municipal corporation
Vijayvargiya said that the greatest need of the present time is for cities to take responsibility for the development of their surrounding areas by sitting in the driving seat themselves. He said that state governments are working towards becoming self-reliant, but political pressure has increased due to commitments made during elections. He said that for this reason, the expected budgetary assistance from the center is not fully met. Citing the example of Madhya Pradesh, Vijayvargiya said that more cooperation from the center is needed for the Amrit Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Self-reliant India not possible without reducing income disparity: Manohar Lal
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, said that to make the country self-reliant, it is very important to reduce the income disparity, and this work is possible only with the cooperation of central and state governments. He said that the states would have to strengthen themselves. Manohar Lal said that it is estimated that about 40 percent of the country’s area has become urban, but the actual situation will only become clear after the 2026 census. He clarified that colonization and land management are subjects of the state governments, while the central government’s role is that of a facilitator. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the resolution for a developed and self-reliant India by 2047. Developed India means the fulfillment of people’s basic needs. Self-reliance will only come when income inequality is reduced. Central budget limited, states must spend on time
The Union Minister said that the central government’s budget is limited. In some states, the allocated amount is not fully utilized. In such cases, when demand comes from other states, the remaining amount is distributed. Ministers and officials from these states participated
Urban Development Ministers, Ministers of State from Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, senior officials from the Government of India and various states were present at this regional meeting. During the meeting, a work-direction manual for Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 was also released, which will help strengthen cleanliness, sustainability and citizen-centric urban governance. Discussion on key urban development issues in five sessions
During the meeting, major topics related to urban development were discussed in detail across five sessions.