213. Application of Grama Panchayat fund and property.
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder and such general or special orders of the Government, all property owned by or vested in the Grama panchayat under this Act and all funds received by it and all sums accruing to it under the provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force, shall be applied for the purposes specified in sections 58 and 59 and for all other purposes for which by or under this Act, or any other law for the time being in force, powers are conferred or duties are imposed upon the Grama Panchayat:Provided that no expenditure shall be incurred out of the Grama Panchayat Fund unless provision therefor has been made in the budget of the Grama Panchayat or funds are obtained by reappropriation duly approved, except in such cases as may be prescribed:Provided further that not less than twenty percent of the funds meant for welfare activities shall be utilised for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.(2)The Grama Panchayat Fund shall also be utilised for the following purposes,-(i)payment of salaries and allowances to the Adhyaksha and Upadhyaksha, officers and staff, traveling allowance, daily allowance, and sitting fees to the members of the Grama Panchayat or any Committee thereof, subject to such rules as may be prescribed.(ii)any amount falling due on any loan raised by the Grama Panchayat;(iii)with the previous sanction of the Chief Executive Officer,[and in accordance with the guidelines specified by the Government] [Inserted by Act 29 of 1997 w.e.f. 20.10.1997.] for any other purpose for which the application of such property or fund is necessary in public interest:Provided that any amount granted to the Grama Panchayat by the Government or any person or local authority for any specific work or purpose shall be applied exclusively for such work or purpose and in accordance with such instructions as the Government may specify either generally or specially in this behalf.
