RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-709
ANSWERED ON 08/02/2024
FUNDS ALLOTTED TO STATES UNDER VARIOUS SCHEMES OF THE MINISTRY
709. Dr. ANIL AGRAWAL
SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA
SHRI JAGGESH
SHRI BRIJ LAL
Dr. ANIL SUKHDEORAO BONDE
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the funds allotted to the States of Maharashtra, Kerala and Assam under various schemes of the Ministry of External Affairs during the period 2019-20 to 2023-24 is higher as compared to recent past;
(b) if so, the allotment of funds thereof annually from 2019-24;
(c) whether Government of India approve any special projects of the Ministry of External Affairs under overseas Indian affairs for the States of Maharashtra, Kerala and Assam from 2019-24; and
(d) if so, the details thereof for 2019-24, annually?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SMT. MEENAKASHI LEKHI)
(a to d) The funds are provided under Ministry’s ‘State Facilitation and Knowledge Support’ (SF&KS) Scheme to Ministry’s Branch Secretariats, Regional Passport Offices and Passport Offices on specific request to carry out State outreach activities in various States/UTs across the country.
The funds under ‘State Facilitation and Knowledge Support’ (SF&KS) were allotted as under:
| Branch Secretariats/Regional Passport Offices/Passport Offices |
Financial Year |
Funds Allocated (INR) |
| Branch Secretariat, Guwahati |
2020-21 |
5,00,000/- |
| Regional Passport Office, Mumbai |
2021-22 |
3,00,000/- |
| Regional Passport Office, Pune |
2021-22 |
2,00,000/- |
| Branch Secretariat, Guwahati |
2023-24 |
13,71,443/- |
| Regional Passport Office, Trivandrum |
2023-24 |
25,00,000/- |
The SF&KS Scheme has been set up with the objective to enhance Ministry’s outreach through the network of Regional Passport Offices, Passport Offices and MEA Branch Secretariats, by conducting events/seminars in collaboration with the state governments, local academic institutions, think-tanks and business promotion organisations. The Scheme is to be utilised for promotion of trade, tourism and investment, facilitating diplomatic outreach, establishing sister city/state engagements with foreign counterparts and dialogues on economic diplomacy with focus on interests of State/UT.
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