West Bengal Finance Commission

The West Bengal Finance Commission is one of the State Finance Commissions that is formulated by the Governor of the state of West Bengal under the Article 243 Sec I of the Indian Constitution. The 12th West Bengal Finance Commission suggested a grant of ` 1271.00 crores for the development of the rural sector in West Bengal.

Facts-West Bengal Finance Commission:

West Bengal Finance Commission is the state finance committee of the state of West Bengal.

The Finance Commission is set up under the Article 243 Sec I of the Indian Constitution. The main purpose of this committee is to formulate implementation of financial policies pertaining to the state of West Bengal. The Article 243 Sec I of the Indian Constitution orders that the Governor of the state would, at the end of every fifth year establish a Finance Commission for the purpose of reviewing, within the introduction of the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1992.

West Bengal Finance Commission-Precepts:

The precepts that help the West Bengal Finance Commission to function in a better manner are-

• The allocation of the total proceeds from the taxes, tolls, duties, and fees imposed by the state, which is to be divided between the State and the panchayats


• The allocation of the total proceeds pertaining to taxes, tolls, duties, and fees imposed by the state to the different Panchayats


• The financial assistance from the State Consolidated Fund

West Bengal Finance Commission-Steps of rural development:

• The Finance Commission of West Bengal constituted under Article 243 Sec I would attain to similar matters referred by the municipalities as per the Article 243Sec Y of the Constitution


• To attain to matters mentioned by the Governor to the West Bengal Finance Commission regarding the proper finance implementations of the Panchayats


• All recommendations by the Governor should be made together with an explanatory memorandum which is to be presented before the Legislature of the State


• The provide improvement to the financial performance of the Panchayats, which would help in the development of the rural sector

12th West Bengal Finance Commission:

• The Commission suggested grants of ` 1271.00 crores, for the panchayati raj institutions in West Bengal


• The priority for the utilization of grants should be given to the maintenance of water supply, drainage facilities and sanitation by the Panchayati Raj Institutions


• Sishu Siksha Kendra (Child Education Centers), should be maintained by the panchayats


• The maintenance pertaining to public health and nutrition should be undertaken by the panchayats


• A portion of the alloted funds should be used for the maintenance of roads constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sarak Yojana (PMGSY)


• The maintenance of street lighting, places for social events, parks, playground, hat, bazaar, and markets, etc should be under taken by the panchayats


• The alloted funds may be used for the purpose of preparing inventory of assets pertaining to the Panchayats


• Around 1% of the alloted funds may be used as office expenses, pertaining to planning, implementation, and monitoring of the different operations of the panchayats

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