Government Allocates Rs 699 Crore to Rural Local Bodies in West Bengal
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Synopsis
On March 3, the government announced the release of Rs 699 crore in grants for rural local bodies in West Bengal as part of the 15th Finance Commission, aimed at improving local governance and addressing community needs.
Key Takeaways
- Rs 699 crore allocated for rural local bodies.
- Funds distributed under the 15th Finance Commission.
- Support for 21 District Panchayats and over 3,200 Gram Panchayats.
- Focus on sanitation and water management.
- Enhancing rural governance and self-reliance.
New Delhi, March 3 (NationPress) On Monday, the government allocated a total of Rs 699 crore to rural local bodies in West Bengal as part of the 15th Finance Commission.
This funding represents the second installment of Untied Grants totaling Rs 694.4446 crore, along with the remaining portion of the first installment of Untied Grants amounting to Rs 4.9323 crore, as reported by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
The allocated funds will benefit 21 eligible District Panchayats, 326 eligible Block Panchayats, and 3,220 eligible Gram Panchayats across the state.
The Untied Grants are intended for use by Panchayati Raj Institutions/Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) to address specific local needs.
Meanwhile, the Tied Grants can be directed towards essential services such as sanitation and maintaining the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. This includes the management and treatment of household waste, human excreta, and fecal sludge, alongside the provision of drinking water, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling initiatives.
This financial assistance plays a significant role in enhancing rural local governance, improving accountability, and fostering self-reliance in Indian villages.
In the previous month, the Centre distributed grants amounting to Rs 1,086.06 crore under the 15th Finance Commission to rural local bodies in Bihar, Haryana, and Sikkim for the financial year 2024–25.
Bihar received the second installment of Untied Grants worth Rs 821.80 crore as well as the withheld portion of the first installment totaling Rs 47.9339 crore.
Rural local bodies in Haryana obtained the second installment of Untied Grants amounting to Rs 202.47 crore along with the withheld amount of the first installment totaling Rs 7.5993 crore. These funds cover 18 eligible District Panchayats, 142 eligible Block Panchayats, and 6,195 eligible Gram Panchayats.
Sikkim received the second installment of Untied Grants totaling Rs 6.26 crore during the Financial Year 2024–25, which is allocated for 4 eligible District Panchayats and 186 eligible Gram Panchayats that met the necessary conditions for release.
