Assam Panchayats Receive Over Rs 525 Crore in Finance Commission Funds: Himanta Sarma

CM Sarma made the remarks while marking Gandhi Jayanti, recalling Mahatma Gandhi's emphasis on village development, self-reliance and grassroots participation.

In a message shared on the occasion, the Chief Minister said Assam was working towards strengthening its villages and Panchayats by encouraging self-reliance and ensuring that development programmes reach people at the grassroots.

He linked the state's approach with the broader emphasis on Swadeshi and Atmanirbharta, saying the country was moving towards an era in which development was intended to reach even the most remote sections of society.

According to Sarma, the more than Rs 525 crore provided through Finance Commission allocations in 2025 would support welfare and development initiatives implemented through Panchayati Raj institutions.

The Chief Minister said the state would continue efforts to make villages and Panchayats more resilient and self-reliant, drawing inspiration from Gandhi's vision of empowering rural communities.

Assam's Panchayat and Rural Development Department oversees a range of programmes covering areas such as wage employment, rural housing, livelihoods, infrastructure and social security.

The Assam Economic Survey 2025-26 has also highlighted the role of Finance Commission grants in supporting decentralised planning and infrastructure development at the Gram Panchayat level.

The government's emphasis on Panchayats forms part of its wider rural development strategy, with local institutions playing a role in implementing welfare and development programmes.

Sarma said strengthening these institutions would be important for ensuring that the benefits of development reach communities across Assam, particularly at the village level.