The Kozhikode district panchayat budget for 2015-16 has given top priority to agriculture and animal husbandry sectors, schemes for women, children and senior citizens. This apart, huge allocations have been made for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities, public works, education and housing.
Presenting the budget for the next fiscal here on Monday, R. Sasi, chairperson, Finance Standing Committee, proposed an income of Rs 110.24 crore and expenditure of Rs 105.92 crore with a surplus of Rs 4.30 crore.
The revenue included a carryover amount of Rs 7.71 crore from the previous financial year.
He also presented a revised budget for 2014-15 with an income of Rs 74.50 crore and expenditure of Rs 66.79 crore.
District panchayat president Kannathil Jameela chaired the budget session.
The amount earmarked for public works is Rs 40.15 crore; education (Rs 16.40 crore); Scheduled Caste development (Rs 11.81 crore); housing (Rs 8 crore); agriculture and allied activities (Rs. 4.97 crore); small scale enterprises (Rs 4.5 crore); schemes to improve public welfare (Rs 4.53 crore); dairy development and animal husbandry (Rs 2.87 crore); social welfare (Rs 2.62 crore); Scheduled Tribes welfare (Rs 1.42 crore); schemes for welfare of women and children (Rs 2.28 crore); health ( Rs 2.42 crore); drinking water and sanitation (Rs 3 crore), poverty alleviation (Rs 75 lakh ) and fisheries (Rs 15 lakh).
A sum of Rs 3.5 crore has been set aside to improve the farms at Koothali, Perambra, Puthuppadi and Thikkodi. Likewise, an amount of Rs 1.4 crore has been earmarked for development of Regional Poultry Farm, District Veterinary Hospital and dairy development.
Construction of new school buildings, maintenance of existing classrooms, building toilets, purchasing equipment, setting up computer laboratories, establishing solar power schemes, providing drinking water and physical education training have been proposed in the budget.
The Skill Development Centre involved in conducting various vocational and rural technology training and research in manufacturing process in electronics and other services, has been allotted Rs 52 lakh.
