Chandigarh, Sept 23: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann met with the leadership of the Seventh Punjab Finance Commission to establish a forward-looking strategy aimed at strengthening the financial health of local self-governments. During the deliberations, Chief Minister Mann declared that durable fiscal institutions and disciplined state financial management are fundamental to providing panchayats and municipal bodies with the resources needed to expand local infrastructure.
Constituted under the leadership of Chairman K. Siva Prasad, the commission brings together public policy experts and senior administrative secretaries. Chief Minister Mann maintained that the body serves as a pivotal instrument for fiscal decentralization, fulfilling the vision of grassroots empowerment envisioned under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. He stated that the government will ensure complete cooperation so the panel can conduct a thorough evaluation of local revenue structures and municipal needs.
Beyond tax and toll sharing mechanisms, the commission will formulate strategic measures to reduce unproductive revenue expenditure and upgrade technical support for civic bodies. The advisory body will maintain a public-centric approach in arriving at its determinations. The finalized recommendations, covering a five-year mandate starting April 1, 2026, will be submitted to the state leadership by September 30, 2027.
