Government Allocates ₹1,086 Crore for Rural Local Bodies in Bihar, Haryana, and Sikkim
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Synopsis
The government has allocated ₹1,086.06 crore in grants to Rural Local Bodies in Bihar, Haryana, and Sikkim for the fiscal year 2024-25, supporting local development and welfare initiatives.
Key Takeaways
- ₹1,086.06 crore allocated under the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
- Support for 38 District Panchayats and over 8,000 Gram Panchayats in Bihar.
- Haryana and Sikkim also receiving significant funds for local governance.
- Funds to be used for essential local needs, excluding salaries.
- Focus on sanitation and Open Defecation-Free initiatives.
New Delhi, Feb 19 (NationPress) The government on Wednesday allocated grants amounting to ₹1,086.06 crore under the Fifteenth Finance Commission for the Rural Local Bodies in Bihar, Haryana, and Sikkim for the fiscal year 2024–25.
Bihar has received the second installment of Untied Grants totaling ₹821.80 crore along with the withheld part of the first installment amounting to ₹47.9339 crore.
These funds are designated for all 38 District Panchayats, 530 eligible Block Panchayats, and 8,052 eligible Gram Panchayats that have met the necessary criteria for the release of funds.
The Rural Local Bodies in Haryana will obtain the second installment of Untied Grants amounting to ₹202.47 crore and the withheld portion from the first installment of ₹7.5993 crore. This allocation is intended for 18 eligible District Panchayats, 142 eligible Block Panchayats, and 6,195 eligible Gram Panchayats.
Sikkim has received the second installment of Untied Grants worth ₹6.26 crore for the financial year 2024–25. These funds are allocated to 4 eligible District Panchayats and 186 eligible Gram Panchayats that have satisfied the required conditions.
The Untied Grants will be employed by Panchayati Raj Institutions/Rural Local Bodies to address location-specific needs as per the 29 subjects outlined in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, excluding salaries and establishment costs.
The Tied Grants are designated for essential services like sanitation and maintaining Open Defecation-Free status, which includes waste management, treatment of human excreta, and drinking water provision, alongside rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
Earlier this January, the Union Government allocated ₹1,73,030 crore as tax devolution to state governments, an increase from ₹89,086 crore in December 2024.
This increased allocation aims to support states in boosting capital expenditure and funding development and welfare initiatives, involving a total of 26 states in the package.
The funds released encompassed ₹13,017.06 crore for West Bengal, ₹7,002.5 crore for Andhra Pradesh, ₹6,310 crore for Karnataka, ₹5,412 crore for Assam, ₹5,895 crore for Chhattisgarh, ₹14,317 crore for Himachal Pradesh, ₹3,330.83 crore for Kerala, ₹3,126.65 crore for Punjab, and ₹7,057.89 crore for Tamil Nadu.
Among the other states, Uttar Pradesh received ₹31,039.84 crore, Maharashtra ₹10,930.31 crore, Gujarat ₹6,017 crore, Madhya Pradesh ₹13,582.86 crore, Manipur ₹1,238.9 crore, and Meghalaya ₹1,327.13 crore.
