RDD finally submits UCs to avail central funds for J&K panchayats

JAMMU: After repeated reminders and requests from union government, the Rural Development Department (RDD) has finally submitted Utilization Certificates (UCs) to the New Delhi to avail development funds for panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir under 14th Finance Commission.

“The Government of India (GoI) has already provided four (4) installments to panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir under the14th Finance Commission but the development assumes significance as there is ambiguity in many of the government departments regarding pattern and nature of central funding after the Government of India abrogated special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into two Union Territories (UTs),” official sources told The News Now.

“On the request of GoI, we have submitted Utilization Certificates (UCs) to avail funds for panchayats under14th Finance Commission,” Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Sheetal Nanda informed the News Now.

“The funds provided so far by the GoI to our panchayats under 14th Finance Commission are a little over Rs 800 crore,” Sheetal Nanda informed.

These funds have been provided by the central government in four installments, the first of which was a whopping Rs 235 crore funds for the year 2017-18 under 14th FC in July this year, official sources informed.

However, funds for the year 2018-19 and 2019-20 under 14th Finance Commission are yet to be released by the Government of India, sources informed. This is subject to submission of UCs.

Jammu and Kashmir is entitled to get central funds amounting to Rs 4161.86 crore for the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as recommended by14th Finance Commission in the year 2015, sources said.

Out of these funds, Rs 3117.36 crore have been earmarked for the Rural Local Bodies (Panchayati Raj Institutions) and Rs 1044.51 crore for the Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations, Committees and Councils).

“The funds released by the union government are received directly in the State Fund of RDD,” Sheetal Nanda said, adding, “These funds are directly transferred in the accounts of panchayats for undertaking development works”.

There are 4490 panchayats in the state with equal number of sarpanchs, while the total number of Panches in the state is 35,000.

As per rough estimates, each panchayat would be entitled to a cumulative allocation of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore per annum for development works, sources said.

If Jammu and Kashmir meets the benchmarks laid down under the 14th Finance Commission for both Urban Local Bodies and Rural Local Bodies, the State would be able to get additional Rs 607.50 crore performance grant, which would be applicable from 2016-17 financial year, sources said.


Updated On 8/24/2019 11:21:02 AM