Kohima, 24 May (MTNews): The Government of Nagaland has announced the formation of the 3rd Nagaland State Finance Commission with the objective of addressing the financial needs of the municipalities in the state. The commission, consisting of a Chairman and two other members, has been constituted for a period of 12 months from the date of the official notification.
The newly appointed Chairman of the commission is Menukhol John, a retired Principal Secretary. Assisting him in the commission’s work are Sarah Ritse, a retired Commissioner & Secretary, and GW Lee, a retired Director (T&A), who will serve as the Member and Member-Secretary, respectively.
The Third Nagaland State Finance Commission has been entrusted with the task of making recommendations on various important matters pertaining to municipal finances. These include determining the distribution of net proceeds of taxes, duties, tolls, and fees between the state and the municipalities, as well as assigning or appropriating taxes, duties, tolls, and fees to the municipalities. The commission will also suggest measures to improve the financial position of the municipalities and determine the rates of various taxes, tolls, and fees that may be levied by them.
Furthermore, the commission has been given the authority to consider any other matter referred to by the government in the interest of sound finances of the municipalities. In formulating its recommendations, the commission is mandated to take into account several key factors. These include the objective of balancing the receipts and expenditure of both the State Government and the local bodies, generating surplus for capital investment, the available resources of the State Government, demands on those resources, and the financial requirements of the municipalities.
The terms of office for the Chairman and the members of the commission, as well as the conditions of their services and other allowances, shall be in accordance with Rule 6 and 7 of the Nagaland State guidelines.
The Third Nagaland State Finance Commission is expected to submit its report by 29 February 2024, which will cover a period of three years starting from April 1, 2023.