State Finance Commission seeks suggestions

Jamshedpur, July 12: State finance commission that held a meeting with East Singhbhum district administrative officials and local urban bodies head at Circuit House, on Wednesday evening at Circuit House has decided to submit its recommendation on clarity of financing local governing bodies in rural and urban areas by December this year.

Chairman of the Jharkhand State Finance Commission, Nand Kishore Mishra said that during the meeting they brainstormed on several issues. The recommendation will be in the form of an interim report which would be submitted to the Governor by December. The Governor will in turn give it to the state government for furnishing an action taken report which in turn would be table before state assembly for discussion.

�We are interacting with all stakeholders in different districts for drafting my recommendations. I have already held interactions with Ranchi and Seraikela-Kharsawan district officials and today I discussed with East Singhbhum official. Tomorrow we will be holding similar meeting at Chaibasa (West Singhbhum district),� said the senior officer.

According to Mishra, at present there is no clarity on the division of work at the three levels of panchayati raj institutions (zilla parishad at block level, panchayat samiti at panchayat level and gram panchayat at village level) and local urban bodies (municipal corporation, municipal council and nagar panchayat) which was creating hurdle in sanctioning of the consolidated fund of the state.

�Suggestions of every stakeholder both at rural and urban level will be taken so that state consolidated fund can be best utilized to supplement the resources of local self government bodies and improving their financial, administrative and legal powers,� said Mishra. The chairman said that the interim report will also clear on ambiguous sections of Jharkhand Panchayati Raj Act 2001

“Commission is very sensitive about the issue of funds to be utilised properly for civic functions. We are also reviewing the financial records and based on it proposing recommendations,” said another official.

The commission also observed that institutions are still not able to achieve the benchmarks set for providing basic facilities to citizens. A detailed analysis was also conducted during the meeting. Stress has also been laid for making local bodies a self-revenue generating bodies.

“Local bodies should endeavor to become financially self-reliant, earn increased own revenue progressively and bear the maintenance cost of basic civic services given in the area of their jurisdiction by acting upon suggested measures,” said an official.