Unakoti’s local bodies submit funding proposals as the State Finance Commission discusses tax allocation and strategic planning in Kailashahar review meet.
A review meeting of the State Finance Commission focusing on Unakoti district was held on Wednesday evening at the conference hall of the Circuit House in Kailashahar. The meeting aimed to evaluate ongoing development activities and financial planning related to both rural and urban local bodies.
The session was presided over by Abhishek Singh, the Chairman of the Tripura State Finance Commission and Secretary of the State Rural Development Department. Other key dignitaries included Akincan Sarkar, Member Secretary of the Finance Commission, and Dr. Pallab Kanti Ghoshal, a member of the Finance Commission. From the district administration, Unakoti District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma welcomed the gathering and delivered the opening address. Additional District Magistrates Argha Saha and L. Darlong were also present, alongside elected representatives such as Unakoti Zilla Parishad Chairman Amalendu Das and Vice Chairman Santosh Dhar.
The meeting also saw participation from the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the three Panchayat Samitis under Unakoti district—Gournagar, Chandipur, and Kumarghat—as well as heads and deputy heads of numerous Gram Panchayats. Several government officials and public representatives were in attendance, highlighting the importance of grassroots-level engagement in developmental planning.
Visit of 6th State Finance Commission to North Tripura and Unakoti District. pic.twitter.com/jc6ss74xeE
— Directorate of Panchayats, Government of Tripura (@TripuraPanch) May 1, 2025
During his address, Finance Commission Chairman Abhishek Singh emphasized the crucial role of local bodies in ensuring the successful execution of development projects. He elaborated on a recent visit by officials from the Central Finance Commission, which took place in January this year. During that visit, central officials held a high-level meeting with the Tripura State Finance Commission to discuss the modalities of tax collection and fund allocation between the Centre and the State.
Singh explained that the Central Government collects various forms of taxes including income tax, VAT, and GST. A small portion of these collections is allocated to the state for developmental purposes, while the remainder is retained by the Centre. Similarly, the state government collects its own taxes, from which a fraction is distributed to rural and urban local bodies to support development initiatives, with the rest retained for state-level expenditures.
“This makes advance planning by rural and urban bodies absolutely essential,” said Singh, emphasizing that developmental work must be aligned with the financial guidelines and objectives of both central and state governments. He also pointed out that detailed planning and proper documentation are crucial to securing the necessary funds.
The review meeting served as a platform for local representatives to present thei development-related demands. Several Panchayat Samitis submitted written proposals seeking funds for specific projects under their jurisdiction. These included requests for infrastructure development, water supply improvements, road maintenance, sanitation projects, and employment generation schemes.
A wide range of topics related to the functioning of the Finance Commission and fund disbursement mechanisms were discussed. These included the need for transparency, timely submission of utilization certificates, and effective monitoring of sanctioned projects.
Prior to this meeting, a similar district-level review session was held in Dharmanagar for the North Tripura district, indicating that the State Finance Commission is undertaking a district-wise tour to assess ground-level requirements and ensure equitable distribution of financial resources.
This initiative by the Finance Commission reflects a growing emphasis on decentralized planning and participatory governance, ensuring that the voices of local bodies are heard and factored into the broader framework of state development. Officials present expressed optimism that such review meetings would strengthen the planning and implementation processes at the grassroots level, ultimately contributing to the balanced development of Tripura.
As the state government continues to work closely with local administrative bodies, these review meetings are expected to become a cornerstone of collaborative governance and accountable public spending
