SHILLONG, Feb 4: The state Health and Family Welfare department is hopeful of getting grants from the 15th Finance Commission despite the absence of elected urban local bodies or panchayats.
The recently-presented Union Budget has allocated Rs 13,192 crore for health to strengthen the primary healthcare system and plug the gaps unearthed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The amount will be allocated to panchayati raj and urban local bodies for them to spend in accordance with the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.
However, in the absence of panchayati raj and urban local bodies in the state, doubts and questions arise as to whether Meghalaya would miss out on the funds.
Reacting to queries on the matter, principal secretary, state health department, Sampath Kumar said, “I don’t think we are going to lose out on the funds and if the funds have come to the state exchequer, it has to be implemented by the health department.”
Kumar said a mechanism would soon be put in place through which funds meant for healthcare would be directed to the department itself. “We are taking up the matter on how to devolve the funds to the villagers and are working on some kind of model which requires even the approval of the Cabinet,” he said.
Admitting that villages, and even the urban local bodies in the state, were losing out on the Finance Commission grants in the absence of an elected body, he said, “The funds in such cases are usually transferred to the autonomous district councils (ADCs).”
He, however, said that healthcare was a state subject and funds meant for healthcare could not be diverted to ADCs.
Meanwhile, the Union ministry of health and family welfare is in the process of drawing up guidelines where funds will be spent.
This allocation is the first tranche of a total grant of Rs 70,051 crore earmarked for the health sector at the rural and urban local body levels over the award period of five years.