New Delhi (NVI): The 15th Finance Commission today met with representatives of the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) of Goa. The Finance Commission was headed by its Chairman NK Singh. Members and senior officials of the commission also accompanied Singh.
During the meeting, the representatives of the RLBs informed the Commission that the first State Finance Commission was constituted in 1999 and the Government of Goa had accepted its recommendations in November 2001.
The second State Finance Commission submitted its report in December 2007, but the Goa government did not accept its recommendations.
Later, the 3rd State Finance Commission was constituted in January 2017, 10 years after submission of report of the 2nd State Finance Commission, and has not yet submitted the report even after three years.
The main recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission were that grants to Rural Local Body of Rs 134 crore should be provided. Out of that Rs 120 crore was Basic Grant and Rs 14 crore was for Performance Grant. By the end of March 31, 2019, only Rs 50 crore as Basic Grant and Rs 2.62 crore as Performance Grant, has been sanctioned which is 42% of the total grant recommended by 14th Finance Commission
The 15th Finance Commission desired to know the reasons behind not implementing the recommendations of the 2nd State Finance Commission. It also sought information as to why submission of the report of the 3rd State Finance Commission was awaited even after three years of its constitution.
In view of the fact that in 2016-17 & 2017-18, 191 village panchayats had generated Rs 24 crore and Rs 25 crore respectively as Tax Revenue, the Commission has also sought information for the status of accounts of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
The Commission has noted all the issues raised by the RLB representatives and has assured to address them in the recommendations to the Union Government.
