13th Finance Commission should focus on governance issues

NEW DELHI: The 13th Finance Commission needs to focus on governance and improving the quality of expenditure while submitting its recommendations to the government, say experts.

These views were expressed by speakers at an interactive session today between members of the present and previous Commissions, held under the chairmanship of 13th Finance Commission's chairman Vijay Kelkar.

While suggesting changes in approach and methodology to be adopted by the 13th Commission, the speakers emphasised that the panel should try to maintain a balance between growth and equity while paying attention to improving the quality of expenditure, said an official release.

Speakers also underlined the need for adopting measures to maintain a stable and sustainable fiscal environment, consistent with achieving equitable growth and meeting the needs of the Centre and demands of states.

The meeting, which was attended by former chairmen and members including K C Pant and NKP Salve, also discussed the terms of reference of the Commission and its scope.

Today's meeting was the culmination of a series of regional and national consultations launched by the Commission since it was commissioned in November 2007, the release said.

The Government constituted this Commission to give specific recommendations on sharing of taxes between the Centre and states and provide an outline for distributing the grants-in-aid among the states.

The Commission, among other things, will also suggest measures for augmenting the Consolidated Funds of the States and supplementing the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities.