New Delhi, February 18 (HS): The Central Government has released the Fifteenth Finance Commission grants for the financial year 2024-25 for rural local bodies in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. These grants provided to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) play an important role in strengthening democracy at the grassroots level.
According to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj of the Central Government, the first installment of untied grants amounting to Rs 225.1707 crore has been released for the rural local bodies of Punjab. This amount is for the eligible 13144 Gram Panchayats, eligible 146 Block Panchayats and all eligible 22 District Panchayats of the state. The Fifteenth Finance Commission grants released during the financial year 2024-25 for rural local bodies in Chhattisgarh are the second installment of untied grants of the financial year 2024-25 of Rs 237.1393 crore as well as the withheld amount of the first installment of untied grants of the financial year 2024-25 of Rs 6.9714 crore. These funds are for 11548 eligible Gram Panchayats of the state, all eligible 146 Block Panchayats and all eligible 27 District Panchayats. These funds are for the eligible 7769 Gram Panchayats of the state, all eligible 995 Block Panchayats and all eligible 13 District Panchayats.
The Government of India recommends the release of Finance Commission grants to the states for rural local bodies through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation), which are then released by the Ministry of Finance. Tied grants are recommended and released in two instalments in a financial year. The tied grants will be used for location-specific requirements by Panchayati Raj Institutions and rural local bodies under 29 subjects contained in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, except for salaries and other establishment costs. Tied grants can be used for basic services, including maintaining sanitation and open defecation free status and should include management and treatment of household waste, especially human excreta and faecal sludge and supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
