Nadia Zilla Parishad
	Krishnagar, Nadia, West Bengal

Untied Fund (2nd SFC)

1.        The grants under Untied Fund shall be utilised primarily to meet the responsibilities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions towards the citizen in respect of those activities, which have been entrusted by the Government on those bodies and for economic development and social justice including reduction of general disparities in general.  Priority should be given on augmentation of livelihood opportunities for eradication of poverty, human development related to universalization of elementary education, prevention of common diseases and promotion of public health including nutritional status of mother and children.  Fund should not be used for those activities for which adequate support is available from existing Government programme.  Special attention should also be given on improvement of various civic services to the citizens such as water supply, drainage facilities, drinking water and sanitation facilities in public places, conservancy, road connectivity, street lights, medical facilities and other such facilities for betterment of quality of the life of the citizens.  Untied Fund may also be utilised for development of infrastructure related to its own office as well as building quarters for those who are working for those bodies as own employees or on ex-officio capacities or on deputation basis.  However, no infrastructure should be created which will require extra manpower to utilize the same.       

2         The Untied Funds shall be utilized by Panchayati Raj Institutions to bridge critical gaps in implementing various activities mentioned in the para 3.1 above. At least thirty percent (30%) of allocation for each tier of the Panchayati Raj Institutions may be earmarked for social sector such as education, health, nutrition and sanitation; women and child development etc.  Another fifteen per cent (15%) may be earmarked by the Gram Panchayat and the Panchayat Samiti for providing inputs for animal husbandry, fishery, horticulture, agriculture etc. that can be given only to the poor who have formed Self-Help Groups.

3        The Untied Funds should not be spent on maintenance of existing assets and the entire amount shall be spent on creation of new assets or other initiatives for augmenting capacities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions for faster economic and human development of the areas.

4       In special cases Land may be purchased with approval of the Government to meet the stated objectives only if the Panchayati Raj Institution also share at least twenty five percent (25%) of the cost of purchase out of their own income;

         No amount can be spent on salary, purchase of vehicles, construction of religious institutions, graveyards or cremation ground, monuments and auditorium etc.  Also no amount shall be utilised for any activity in any urban area, excepting that within the office complex of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, if situated in an urban area.  However, remunerative assets and marketing infrastructure for the Self-Help Groups may be created in Municipal areas with the approval of the State Government.  Development of infrastructure for other Departments and not directly of use to the Panchayati Raj Institutions for discharging their responsibilities will not be permitted, unless specifically directed.

5       A priority should also be given in taking up schemes in the identified   back-ward villages (by the State as well as by the districts) so that investment in those villages far exceeds the per capita investment in rest of the districts.  Zilla Parishads may invest a portion of its entitlement to meet special needs of backward villages and areas facing unprecedented problems like river erosion etc.

6       For incurring contingent expenditure, up to one percent (1%) of the grants under Untied Fund will be spent by Panchayati Raj Institutions for preparation of Action Plans and implementation of works.

7       For capacity building and outsourcing for projectisation up to two percent (2%)  of the fund under Untied Grants shall be earmarked.