The Finance Ministry has issued Rs 13,386 crore to 25 states to grant rural local bodies (RLBs). Tied grants are released to the rural local bodies (RLBs) to improve sanitation and maintenance of open-defecation free (ODF) status and provide drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.

“The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, released several Rs 13,385.70 crore to 25 States for giving grants to the RLBs,” the ministry said in a statement. This grant-in-aid is the first instalment of Tied grants of the year 2021-22. The grants have been released as per the advice of the 15th Finance Commission.

Tied grants are meant to ensure the availability of extra funds to the local bodies over and above the funds assigned by the government and states for sanitation and drinking water under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes.