Centre Releases Over ₹342 Crores in XV Finance Commission Grants to Rural Local Bodies in Tamil Nadu & Assam
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Institutions: Ministry of Panchayati Raj | Ministry of Jal Shakti
The Union Government has released the first installment of XV Finance Commission grants to strengthen rural local bodies (RLBs) in Tamil Nadu and Assam, amounting to over ₹342 crore. In Tamil Nadu, ₹127.586 crore has been disbursed to 2,901 Gram Panchayats, 74 Block Panchayats, and 9 District Panchayats. In Assam, ₹214.542 crore has been allocated across 2,192 Gram Panchayats, 156 Anchalik Panchayats (Block-level), and 27 Zilla Parishads (District-level). The release comprises both untied grants, which can be flexibly used by Panchayats across the 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, and tied grants, earmarked for sanitation (including ODF sustainability, solid and liquid waste management), drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling initiatives.
This disbursement reinforces India’s decentralization framework by equipping Panchayati Raj Institutions with predictable resources for local governance. The tied component links grassroots fiscal flows with national priorities in sanitation and water management, ensuring convergence with flagship missions like Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission. Effective utilization will depend on the planning and monitoring capacities of Panchayats, which vary considerably across states.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can fiscal transfers under the XV Finance Commission be leveraged to not only fund services but also systematically build Panchayat capacities for planning, financial management, and monitoring of sanitation and water outcomes?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2167452