New Delhi: The Union Government has released ₹223.94 crore under the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) Grants for rural local bodies in Assam. This amount includes the second installment of untied grants for the financial year 2024–25, totaling ₹219.24 crore, and ₹4.698 crore as the withheld portion from the first installment, now released for additional eligible Block Panchayats.
The grants will be distributed to 27 District Panchayats (DPs), 182 Block Panchayats (BPs), and 2,192 Gram Panchayats (GPs) across Assam. The funds are intended to address location-specific needs and development projects for rural local bodies, excluding salaries and establishment costs.
These untied grants will be used for a variety of initiatives under the 29 subjects outlined in the Eleventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The key areas include sanitation, waste management, maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, and the supply of drinking water. Additionally, the tied grants will be allocated specifically for water-related projects such as rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and the management of fecal sludge and household waste.
The XV-FC grants are part of a larger effort by the Government of India, through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, to strengthen the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions and ensure comprehensive rural development. The funds are released in two installments each financial year, with this latest release further supporting the state's rural infrastructure and sanitation efforts.
