The Sixth State Finance Commission of Odisha, led by Chairperson Dr. Arun Kumar Panda, submitted its interim report to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today at Lok Seva Bhawan.
The commission, tasked with reviewing the financial distribution between the state and its local bodies, presented a detailed report outlining recommendations to enhance the fiscal health of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The delegation, comprising commission members Professor Asit Ranjan Mohanty, Professor Amaresh Samantaray, Dr. Bibhu Prasad Nayak, Member Secretary Dr. Satyapriya Rath, and ex officio member Arindam Dakua, discussed key suggestions to streamline the allocation of taxes, duties, tolls, and fees collected by the state. Earlier in the day, the commission also presented the interim report to Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati at Raj Bhavan.
The meeting with the Chief Minister was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and Drinking Water Rabi Narayan Naik, Minister for Housing & Urban Development and Public Enterprises Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shaswat Mishra, Principal Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of Finance Sanjeev Kumar Mishra, and Director of Panchayati Raj Vineet Bhardwaj.
Constituted under Articles 243-I and 243-Y of the Indian Constitution by the Governor, the Sixth State Finance Commission is responsible for recommending policies to regulate the distribution of state revenues among PRIs and ULBs. The commission aims to bolster the financial stability of these institutions by suggesting measures to optimise resource allocation.
The interim report, which will be forwarded to the Sixteenth Finance Commission for consideration, addresses the immediate financial concerns of local bodies. The commission plans to conduct a deeper analysis of the challenges faced by these institutions and submit a final report within a specified timeline.
This submission marks a significant step toward empowering local governance in Odisha, ensuring that PRIs and ULBs are financially equipped to deliver essential services and drive development at the grassroots level.
