Tripura Panchayat minister welcomes proposal to increase financial grants for state under 16th FC

Tripura Panchayat Minister Kishor Barman represented the state at the National Workshop on the 16th Finance Commission Recommendations, organized by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday.

Addressing the workshop, Barman expressed gratitude to the Union Government and Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, for organizing the event and for extending full financial assistance to Tripura under the 15th Finance Commission. He noted that Tripura is among the few states to have received the entire allocation under the commission.

The minister welcomed several key proposals under the 16th Finance Commission, including an increase in financial grants for Tripura, the introduction of Performance Grants, and the proposal to maintain a 50:50 ratio between Tied and Untied Funds for Panchayati Raj Institutions.

During his address, Barman also highlighted Tripura's achievements in strengthening local self-governance. 

He said the state has won three national awards from the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj during the current year, including the e-Governance Award, following seven national awards received last year, reflecting the state's consistent progress in Panchayati Raj administration.

The national workshop was attended by Panchayati Raj ministers from 18 states, representatives of state governments, and senior officials of the Central Government to deliberate on the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission.

Barman expressed confidence that the implementation of the commission's recommendations would further strengthen Tripura's three-tier Panchayati Raj system by making it more transparent, technology-driven, accountable, and people-centric.

He said the reforms would contribute significantly to improving the quality of life in rural areas and reaffirmed the state's commitment to the vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas" in building developed villages, a developed Tripura, and a developed India.