The XV Finance Commission grants are recommended by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation) and are released by the Ministry of Finance in two installments during the financial year. Untied Grants allow Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to address location-specific priorities under 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, except for salaries and other establishment expenses.
Unlike untied grants, Tied Grants are earmarked for critical services such as sanitation, maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, household waste management, human excreta and fecal sludge treatment, and drinking water supply, including rainwater harvesting and water recycling initiatives.
Impact on Mizoram Village Councils
With these grants, Village Councils are expected to implement projects tailored to local requirements, from infrastructure development and sanitation improvements to community-led water conservation programs. The flexibility of untied grants ensures that councils can respond promptly to pressing issues in their villages without waiting for central directives.
The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to decentralised governance, empowering rural local bodies to plan and execute development projects in alignment with local priorities and community needs. Experts believe that such financial empowerment will strengthen local democracy and improve service delivery across Mizoram’s villages.