Release of adequate funds

10/02/2019

Keeping up its commitment, the Central Government has started flow of funds to Jammu and Kashmir Government for Panchayats by releasing first instalment of Rs 282 crore and deciding to clear 14th Finance Commission grants for the civic bodies worth Rs 4335 crore for the State, which the elected bodies would start getting soon. The Centre, have assured release of more and adequate funds very soon for the Panchayats as promised before conduct of elections and there would be sufficient funding to the Panchayats well before the end of current financial year of 2018-19, which still has two months to go. The funds would be released to the Panchayats depending upon their area, terrain and requirement. Meanwhile, the Central Government has decided to clear Rs 4335 crore worth Central grants meant for Panchayats and Municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir under the Award of 14th Finance Commission, which had been stopped in the absence of elected civic bodies.
14th Finance Commission grants for Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies were also exclusively mentioned for elected bodies and couldn't be released to the State Government by the Centre as elected Panchayats and Municipalities had ceased to exist long back. Central grants running into hundreds of crores had been stopped by the Government for Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies in the absence of elections to them. While elected Municipalities had ceased to exist after completion of their five-year term in March 2010, the Panchayats had completed their term in June 2016. Grants of the Municipalities were pending for last about eight years while the funds of Panchayats were blocked for about two and half years. The Central Government had made it a point that the grants would be released only to the elected bodies despite being approached by representatives of previous PDP-BJP dispensation seeking relaxation in release of grants citing adverse security situation leading to delay in conduct of elections to Panchayats and Municipalities. However, the Centre had rejected request of the State Government and insisted on conduct of elections to both Panchayats and Municipalities for release of grants. While the previous PDP-BJP Government failed to hold the elections, they were held from October to December last year during the Governor's Rule in the State. The elected bodies have since been constituted.

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