Patna, July 12: Vice-President Hamid Ansari today advocated for an increased spending on local bodies, saying the issue of devolution of finance to local governments to achieve inclusive and effective decentralised governance was not adequately debated in the country.

“India has one of the lowest shares of the local government expenditure compared to total public sector expenditure around 5 per cent,” Ansari said, inaugurating the first SN Sinha annual anniversary lecture series organised to mark the former chief minister’s 94th birth anniversary.

“The institution of the state finance commission has not been harnessed enough to achieve fiscal devolution to the local government and thus achieve a more inclusive and effective decentralised governance in the country,” the vice-president said.

To buttress his point, Ansari read out some figures about India’s expenditure on local government compared to some other countries. “The share of local government expenditure to GDP is less than 2 per cent in India compared to over 10 per cent in China and over 6 per cent in Brazil,” the Vice-President, who landed in the city around 11am, said.

Lauding Sinha, Ansari said he was an important political leader and a distinguished parliamentarian who made significant contributions in streamlining the education system of the state.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar recalled his days spent with Sinha, popularly known Chhote Sahab. “Sinha, who has left indelible impression on Bihar’s politics, always promoted the younger generation,” Nitish said.

Governor Devanand Konwar said Sinha was an illustrious son of Bihar who played constructive role as the chief minister of the state.

Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar, the only son of late SN Sinha, welcomed the guests. His wife, Shyama Singh, proposed a vote of thanks.

Nikhil Kumar’s mother Kishori Sinha, food and civil supplies minister Shyam Rajak, former Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and orthopaedic surgeon R.N. Singh were among the dignitaries present at the function.