Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 27: The Central government has released Rs 404.97 crore as the second instalment of the Fifteenth Finance Commission grants for rural local bodies in Karnataka for the financial year 2024–25. The funds aim to strengthen local governance and accelerate rural transformation, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj announced on Thursday.

The grant has been allocated to 5,375 eligible gram panchayats across Karnataka, empowering local bodies to undertake developmental initiatives under the 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. The funds, which cannot be used for salaries or administrative expenses, are divided into untied and tied grants.

Untied grants offer flexibility for community-specific projects, enhancing local infrastructure and development. Tied grants are earmarked for sanitation—including waste management and faecal sludge management—and drinking water projects, such as rainwater harvesting and water recycling.

Administered by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Fifteenth Finance Commission grants aim to promote grassroots development, improve governance, and support sustainable rural initiatives. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Viswas, Sabka Prayas’, fostering inclusive growth and participatory democracy.