New Delhi: The centre government has released an amount of ₹8,923.8 crore in advance to 25 states for providing grants to the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) because of the coronavirus pandemic, the ministry of finance said on Sunday. “The amount released on Saturday is the first instalment of the ‘Untied Grants’ for the year 2021-22.
According to the data released by the finance ministry, Uttar Pradesh’s panchayats have received the highest grants of ₹1,441.6 crore, followed by Maharashtra ( ₹881.4 crore), Bihar (741.8 crore), and West Bengal ( ₹652.2 crore). Panchayats of states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu have received grants of ₹588.8 crore, ₹570.8 crore, and ₹533.2 crore, respectively.
Karnataka’s Rural Local Bodies have received ₹475.4 crore from the central government, while Gujarat has received ₹472.4 crore. Andhra Pradesh received ₹387.8 crore and Odisha ₹333.8 crore. Whereas Telangana ( ₹273 crore), Jharkhand ( ₹249.8 crore), Kerala ( ₹240.6 crore), Assam ( ₹237.2 crore), and Punjab ( ₹205.2 crore) have also received grants for their Rural Local Bodies.
It may be utilised by the RLBs, among other things, for various prevention and mitigation measures needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it will augment resources to the three tiers of Panchayats for fighting the contagion,” Finance Ministry said in a statement. The grants are meant for all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions village, block, and district, the ministry added.
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