Union Government Releases Fifteenth Finance Commission Grants for Rural Local Bodies in Bihar, Haryana, and Sikkim.
New Delhi:
The Union Government has disbursed the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) Grants for the financial year 2024-25 to the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) of Bihar, Haryana, and Sikkim. These funds will support the development and functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in these states, promoting the efficient management of rural services and infrastructure.
Bihar has received the second installment of Untied Grants, amounting to Rs. 821.8021 crores, along with the withheld portion of the first installment, totaling Rs. 47.9339 crores. These grants will be allocated to the 38 District Panchayats, 530 eligible Block Panchayats, and 8052 eligible Gram Panchayats that met the mandatory release conditions.
Haryana will receive a similar second installment of Untied Grants, amounting to Rs. 202.4663 crores, alongside Rs. 7.5993 crores, the withheld portion of the first installment. The funds will benefit the 18 eligible District Panchayats, 142 eligible Block Panchayats, and 6195 eligible Gram Panchayats in the state.
Sikkim, which has also fulfilled the required conditions, will receive Rs. 6.2613 crores as the second installment of Untied Grants for the financial year 2024-25. This amount will support the 4 eligible District Panchayats and 186 eligible Gram Panchayats.
The grants, which are not tied to specific purposes, will be used by these Rural Local Bodies for addressing location-specific needs. These include implementing projects related to 29 subjects under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, excluding salaries and establishment costs. Additionally, the grants can be used for essential services such as sanitation (including the management of household waste and human excreta) and water supply, including rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
The release of these grants is part of the government’s continued effort to empower rural governance and improve the living standards of rural populations across these states.
