<span style="color: #000000;">The Centre has released over 8,923 crore rupees to 25 States for providing grants to the Rural Local Bodies in advance, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants are meant for all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions – village, block and district. Panchayati Raj Institutions can utilise the fund among other things for various prevention and mitigation measures needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br />