PANAJI: The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on Friday said that the 13th Finance Commission has increased the outlay for the state to a whopping Rs 4,377 crore as against Rs 1,727 crore allotted by the 12th Finance Commission.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said that there has been overall increase on all the fronts as regards to central allotment to the state with grant-in-aid to the state having been increased to Rs 516 crore from Rs 135.39 crore by the 12th Finance Commission.
Mr Kamat also said that a state specific grant of Rs 100 crore has been given for the first time with an additional amount of Rs 100 crore for erecting sea barricade. Besides, the grant for the local bodies has been raised from Rs 30 crore to Rs 173 crore.
The Chief Minister further said that the grant for forest maintenance has been raised to Rs 36 crore as against Rs 3 crore by the previous commission and that the share of central taxes to the state has also been increased to Rs 3,587 crore.
He thanked Dr Vijay Kulkarni, who chaired the meetings for giving additional funds to the state.
Mr Kamat also said that his cabinet on Friday cleared an amendment to the Grant-in-Aid scheme to help the Mahila Mandals so as to facilitate easy grant of financial assistance of Rs 5,000.
The cabinet also approved an amendment to the Goa Co-operative Societies Act and a bill to this effect would be brought in the assembly during the budget session.
The Chief Minister also said that the cabinet gave its nod for an amendment to the Goa Monuments Archaeological Sites Protection Act that would help prevent unnecessary litigation in case government enters into an memorandum of understanding with any one for restoration preservation of heritage and archaeological sites.