The Centre has disbursed the first installment of the 15th Finance Commission grants for 2024-25 to rural local bodies in Haryana, Tripura, and Mizoram, as per the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

In particular, Haryana has received untied grants totaling Rs. 194.867 crores. This amount will be allocated to 18 eligible district panchayats, 139 block panchayats, and 5,911 gram panchayats across the state.

Untied grants are utilised by RLBs for location-specific needs, except for salaries and other establishment costs. Tied grants are used for basic services such as sanitation, maintaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and the supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.

For Tripura, untied grants totalling Rs 31.40 crore and tied grants of Rs 47.10 crore have been released for all 1,260 rural local bodies (RLBs), including traditional local bodies, 40 block advisory committees and 587 village committees.

Mizoram received untied and tied grants of Rs 14.20 crore and Rs 21.30 crore, respectively. These funds have been disbursed to all 834 village councils, including those in Autonomous District Council areas, it said.

The Ministry said the Finance Commission grants aim to make the Panchayati Raj Institutions and RLBs more capable, accountable, and self-reliant.

 "Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas', this initiative supports inclusive growth and participatory democracy, vital for the development of the country," it added.

The Centre, through the Panchayati Raj Ministry and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation), recommends the release of 15th Finance Commission grants to states for Rural Local Bodies, which are then released by the Ministry of Finance, the statement said adding that the allocated grants are released in two installments in a financial year.