[KatoabamyHant]

The Tamil Nadu government hit out at the Centre Monday for adopting a “one-size-fits-all” approach in designing schemes and for its “continued attempts to push through legislations encroaching upon state powers”.

“The adoption of a onesize-fits-all approach in designing schemes does not augur well for a healthy Centre-state relationship… the Union government should adopt a flexible approach in formulating and implementing national schemes by fixing only broad objectives and framework,” Governor K. Rosaiah said in his maiden address to the state Assembly.

The Centre should allow states the freedom of designing schemes to meet their specific needs by dovetailing central funds with state resources, he said.

“We will continue to impress upon the Union government the need to adequately address issues raised by our state regarding implementation of the goods and services tax,“ Mr Rosaiah said.

Opposing Food Security Bill in its present form, the governor said the Bill deprived state govern ments of their present allotment of food grains from the central pool.

“This Bill, primarily aimed at states where the public distribution system is non-functional, would have a definite negative impact on Tamil Nadu’s universal PDS. The Bill needs drastic modifications,” he said.

-dc chn