15th Finance Commission recommended Rs 2,376 crore for local bodies of Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The 15th Finance Commission (FC) has recommended grant-in-aid of Rs 2,376 crore for the local bodies of Assam. The local bodies include the 'Panchayati Raj Institutions' (PRIs) as well as the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). This grant-in-aid is for the current fiscal (2020-21).

The total amount under the head of PRI is Rs 1,604 crore. Of this, Rs 1,337.12 crore is meant for the 'General Areas'. Of the remaining amount meant for the Sixth Schedule areas, the highest amount of Rs 178.64 crore is for the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council); followed by Rs 68.22 crore for KAAC (Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council); and Rs 20.02 crore for DHAC (Dima Hasao Autonomous Council).

On the other hand, the amount for the ULBs is Rs 772 crore. Of this, Rs 690.08 crore is meant for the 'General Areas'. Under the Sixth Schedule areas, the highest amount of Rs 33.76 crore is for the BTC; followed by Rs 32.40 crore for KAAC; and Rs 15.76 crore for DHAC.

The guidelines for utilizing these Central funds were finalized at a recent meeting of the high-level monitoring committee (HLMC) of the FC, chaired by the State Chief Secretary.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has released the first installment amounting to Rs 193 crore for the ULBs during 2020-21. The PRIs in Assam are three-tiered. These are gaon panchayat (GP), Anchalik Panchayat (AP), and Zila Parishads (ZPs).

According to sources, while the GPs will get 70 to 85% of the total allocated fund of the 15th FC; the APs will get 10 to 25%; and the ZPs will get 5 to 15% of the Central funds.

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