Date
17-Apr-2023 to 21-Apr-2023

Location

Format
National

The 6th SFC has engaged PRIA Education Trust as a technical support agency to provide support to the SFC in the generation and analysis of appropriate data to arrive at suitable recommendations. Besides, the compilation and analyses of data from various governmental departments and other credible sources, the SFC intends to consult several important stakeholders from Sikkim to receive their inputs and suggestions for the preparation of the report. So, a series of consultations with different stakeholders was organised from 17- 21 April and 29 May- 2 June 2023.

CONSULTATIONS- PHASE 1

Consultation 1 - With the members of past State Finance Commissions of Sikkim

Date - Monday, 17th April 2023

Participants - Chairpersons, Members, and Member Secretaries of past and current (6th) SFCs and Members of PRIA

Objectives

To discuss the experiences of members
Recommendations for the preparation of the 6th SFC report

Consultation 2 - Meeting with ULB officials at Urban Development Department

Date - Tuesday, 18th April 2023

Participants - Chairpersons, Members and Member Secretary of the 6th SFC, Nodal Officials (officials who are posted in the field and are directly associated with functioning of the ULBs and their finances) from all the ULBs in Sikkim, Official of the UDHD in Gangtok, who are directly concerned with functioning of ULBs in the state and Members of PRIA

Objectives

To understand the implications of past SFC recommendations – what differences 5th and 4th SFC recommendations made to improve functioning and finances of the ULBs
What are current opportunities and challenges at ULB levels, which should be addressed by the 6th SFC
Capacity building and financial requirements of ULBs with special reference to newly constituted ULBs in the state

Consultation 3 - Meeting with Rural field functionaries (ADC (Dev)/BDOs/ADs/VAA/PDAs, & other frontline workers) and Nodal officers from the RMDD who are directly associated with the functioning of PRIs in the state

Date - Wednesday, 19th April 2023

Participants - Chairpersons, Members and Member Secretary of the 6th SFC, Rural Field functionaries (ADC (Dev)/BDOs/ADs/VAA/PDAs and other frontline workers of PRIs), RMDD Nodal Officers and Members of PRIA

Objectives

To understand the implications of past SFC recommendations in improving the functioning and finances of the PRIs in the state.
To understand current opportunities and challenges at Gram and District Panchayat levels, which should be addressed by the 6th SFC
Capacity building and financial requirements of GPUs and ZPs with special reference to newly constituted Districts.

Consultation 4 - Meeting with State level officials from RDD, UDD, and Finance Department

Date - Wednesday, 19th April 2023

Participants - Chairpersons, Members and Member Secretary of the 6th SFC, State level officials of RDD, UDD, Finance Department, and Members of PRIA

Objectives

To understate the current state of Devolution and Activity Mapping of the 3Fs (Finances, Functions, and Functionaries) for PRIs and ULBs
To understand the issues in devolution among PRIs and ULBs vis-a-vis the SFC reports
To assess the State’s preparedness for implementation of SFC recommendations.

Consultation 5 - Discussions with the SFC Members

Date - 21 April 2023

Objectives

To discuss the emerging issues from the compiled data and the recent consultations.

Sixth State Finance Commission: Consultations (Phase 1)