Reconstruction of the flood-ravaged Koottickal panchayat on the eastern high ranges of the district has received a major focus in the Kottayam district panchayat’s Budget for 2022-23.
The Budget, presented by vice president T.S. Sarath on Friday, envisages a revenue of ₹119.88 crore and an expenditure of ₹109.33 crore, with a surplus of ₹10.55 crore.
District panchayat president Nirmala Jimmi presided over the session.
The Budget has earmarked ₹5 crore towards restoration of roads and bridges in Koottickal, besides establishing drinking water projects.
Other projects
Other major projects in the Budget include Gender Neutral Kottayam, a river revival programme, and Khadi industries park. The Gender-Neutral Kottayam project aims at implementing gender-neutral uniforms in high schools and higher secondary schools.
An allocation of ₹1 crore has been made towards the 'Rivers are our drinking water source' initiative, which envisages revival of all waterbodies by removing silt and mud.
'Abhayamayi Kottayam' initiative aims at setting up a shelter home for poor patients and their caregivers at Government Medical College Hospital at Gandhinagar at reasonable rates. 'Thanal - K M Mani memorial recreation centre' will be set up at Kuravilangad at ₹2 core, which will serve as a multipurpose centre with play areas, state-of-the-art accommodation, comfort stations and modern cafeterias.
Solar panels
A Khadi Industrial Park to promote the sale of Khadi products will be set up on the Khadi Board’s land. Solar panels will be established in all schools, district hospitals and various farms under the control of the panchayat at an expense of ₹1 crore.
Other major allocations include, ₹4 crore for sanitation, waste management and water conservation; ₹2 crore for setting up five modern gymnasiums; ₹4 crore for 'Santhvana Kottayam', a project to provide financial assistance to dialysis centres and dialysis patients; ₹4 crore to provide financial assistance to women in auxiliary groups of Kudumbashree units and young women in the district under self-employment schemes; and ₹2 crore for the upliftment of children, differently abled and transgender people.
