New Delhi, February 6: The central government announced on Friday that it has released over ₹1,133 crore under the 15th Finance Commission grant to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Telangana during the fiscal year 2025-26.
According to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, ₹652.55 crore has been released as the second installment of untied grants for Madhya Pradesh for the fiscal year 2024-25.
This funding will benefit all 52 eligible district panchayats, 312 eligible block panchayats, and 23,001 eligible gram panchayats in the state.
Additionally, the ministry reported that ₹77 lakh has been released to three additional eligible block panchayats and six gram panchayats as part of the withheld portion of the first installment of untied grants for the fiscal year 2024-25.
For Punjab, the central government has released ₹222 crore as the first installment of untied grants for the fiscal year 2025-26.
The ministry stated that these funds will assist all 13,262 eligible gram panchayats, 150 eligible block panchayats, and 22 eligible district panchayats across the state.
In Telangana, ₹256.0295 crore has been released as the first installment of untied grants for the fiscal year 2024-25, benefiting 12,702 eligible gram panchayats.
The ministry further noted that ₹233.18 lakh from the withheld portion of the second installment of untied grants for the fiscal year 2023-24 has been released to 11 additional eligible gram panchayats and 40 block panchayats.
Untied grants will be utilized by PRIs and RLBs for region-specific needs, excluding salaries and other establishment costs.
Moreover, tied grants can be used for basic services such as maintaining sanitation and open defecation-free (ODF) status, which includes managing and treating household waste, human excreta, and sludge, as well as ensuring drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling.
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