Even as elections to local bodies loom large, district panchayat vice-president Bindhu George on Tuesday presented her final budget, which focuses on infrastructure development, health and welfare.
The budget, with a surplus of Rs.75.78 lakh, envisages an income of Rs 281.35 crore as against an expected expenditure of Rs. 280.59 crore.
Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes is perhaps the only surprise, as it emerges second in terms of allocation with Rs.16.89 crore. Of this, Rs. 69 lakh is capital expenditure allocation towards the comprehensive development of colonies and improving their infrastructure.
The budget sets apart Rs. 35.86 crore towards the annual maintenance of roads under the district panchayat in addition to another Rs.17.43 crore as capital expenditure on district-level roads, bridges and for other activities including setting up of boards.
Of the Rs.14.01 crore allocated to education, Rs. 5.05 crore is capital expenditure for improving school infrastructure, constructing new buildings, setting up smart classrooms, buying furniture for schools and renovation of technical education institutions.
Agriculture and allied activities get Rs. 12.05 crore and significantly Rs. 8.55 crore has been allocated towards wetland oriented activities including conservation of water bodies and mechanisation of farming.
The social security and welfare sector receives Rs. 10.96 crore of which Rs. 4.05 is capital allocation for facilities especially for women. Kiosks for the welfare of needy women, setting up of a district Nirbhaya Kendra, a sales centre for women-oriented industries, and sanitary unit and activities towards converting the district into a women-friendly one takes up the allocation.
Health care receives Rs. 6.65 crore with Rs. 2.50 crore going towards building hospital infrastructure and improving the existing ones, setting up haemophilia centre and free distribution of medicines.
Housing gets Rs. 6.50 crore, animal husbandry Rs. 2.27 crore and dairy development Rs. 1.84 crore.
