Archive · 20 Aug 2026
CPI(M) MLA Seeks 30% Revenue Share for Local Bodies
T. Latha, a lawmaker in Tamil Nadu, wants local councils to receive more money.
She proposed increasing their share of state tax revenue from 10% to 30%.
She said this would help provide drinking water, sanitation and basic infrastructure.
She also wants local councils to receive all the responsibilities promised under two constitutional amendments.
Latha asked for government funds to be sent directly to the panchayats.
She criticised a proposed rural employment scheme, saying it might replace MGNREGS.
She also asked for local elections to be held soon.
In her constituency, she requested better housing support, transport, fire services, sports facilities and irrigation infrastructure.
CPI(M) MLA T. Latha urged Tamil Nadu to raise local bodies’ share of state tax revenue from 10% to 30%.
She called for full devolution of 29 rural and 18 urban local-government subjects under constitutional amendments.
Latha sought direct transfers of Central Finance Commission, State Finance Commission and State treasury funds to panchayats.
She criticised the proposed VPG-Ramji scheme, saying it could replace MGNREGS, and sought a resolution opposing it.
Her other demands included immediate local elections, higher rural housing assistance and infrastructure projects in her constituency.
- Who
- CPI(M) MLA T. Latha of Kilvelur.
- What
- She urged Tamil Nadu to increase local bodies’ tax-revenue allocation to 30% and made several rural-development demands.
- When
- Wednesday.
- Where
- The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Latha’s Kilvelur constituency.
- Why
- She said greater funding and authority would help local bodies provide drinking water, sanitation and basic infrastructure, while other demands addressed rising construction costs and constituency needs.
- Current local-body allocation
- 10% of Tamil Nadu’s tax revenue, according to Latha.
- Proposed allocation
- 30% of state tax revenue.
- Rural subjects sought for devolution
- 29 subjects under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
- Urban subjects sought for devolution
- 18 subjects under the 74th Constitutional Amendment.
- Rural housing assistance
- Latha welcomed its increase to ₹5 lakh but sought ₹10 lakh.
- MGNREGS allocation
- Latha said Tamil Nadu’s allocation under the proposed VPG-Ramji scheme had been reduced by 4.1%.
- Other demands
- Immediate local elections, additional trains to Velankanni, a Kilvelur mini-stadium, fire-station improvements and irrigation works.