Raipur, 11 July 2024: The 16th Central Finance Commission convened a meeting with representatives from panchayats, urban local bodies, and political parties at the Mayfair Lake Resort in Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, on July 11. Dr. Arvind Panagariya, the Chairman of the Central Finance Commission, chaired the meeting.
In discussions with panchayat representatives, Shri S. Bharathi Dasan, Secretary of the Panchayat Department, provided an overview of the funds received by panchayats, their needs, and financial management strategies. Representatives from various state regions shared their local issues, needs, suggestions, and demands, requesting increased central assistance to strengthen the financial situation of panchayats.
During the session with urban local body representatives, Dr. Basavaraju S., Secretary of the Urban Administration Department, presented a detailed account of urban bodies’ financial status, challenges, and needs. Representatives shared their financial challenges and development needs. They also shared their suggestions and demands with the Commission. They called for increased financial resources and improved financial management for urban local bodies.
The Commission also engaged with representatives of various political parties. Elected representatives from different parties discussed suggestions and demands on behalf of their respective parties, requesting increased financial assistance for development projects across various sectors, improved financial coordination between the centre and state, and increased financial allocations for various schemes.
Shri Ajay Narayan Jha, Smt. Annie George Mathew, Dr. Manoj Panda, Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, and other officials were present.
