The Indian government has just disbursed more than ₹730 crore in new funding to help rural local bodies in Gujarat and Haryana, as part of the 15th Finance Commission grant package for the fiscal year 2025‑26.
Fresh money for Gujarat’s villages
- ₹522.2 crore hit Gujarat’s local bodies in two stages.
- 38 district panchayats, 247 block panchayats, and 14,547 gram panchayats all received the second installment of the untied grant for FY 2024‑25.
- An additional ₹13.6 crore was released to six district panchayats, five block panchayats and 78 gram panchayats that were still missing their share.
These untied grants let local governments spend on any community need—except salaries and major staff costs—under the 29 topics listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.
New money for Haryana’s villages
- The first instalment of the untied grant for FY 2025‑26 totals ₹195.1 crore.
- 18 district panchayats, 134 block panchayats, and 6,164 gram panchayats will use this to meet local priorities, from sanitation to water projects.
Tied grants, on the other hand, cover basic services such as keeping villages open‑defecation‑free, treating household waste, providing drinking water, and implementing rainwater harvesting and recycling.
Digital tools boost local governance
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is rolling out several technology platforms to make village administration more transparent and citizen‑friendly:
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SabhaSaar | An AI-powered app that records and summarizes Gram Sabha meetings, making discussions easier to track. |
| SVAMITVA | Digitally maps land and records property rights, helping residents secure their land titles. |
| eGramSwaraj | An all‑in‑one online portal for planning, accounting, and monitoring at the village level. |
| Gram Manchitra | A geo‑spatial planning map that visualizes resources and needs across villages. |
These initiatives aim to empower people to participate more actively in local governance and to make government action more efficient.
Overall, the fresh grant money and the new digital tools signal a strong push to strengthen rural democracy and bring development funds directly to the villages in Gujarat and Haryana.
Source: ianslive
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