The EMS Housing Scheme has been given top priority in the district panchayat projects cleared for the current financial year. Projects to the tune of Rs.15.43 crore have been cleared. The panchayat had submitted projects to the tune of Rs.19 crore. A total of 393 projects had been submitted for government clearance. Of this, 309 were cleared.
District panchayat president Lata Rajaji said that projects under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme would be given the second priority and the projects had been devised in such a way that the economically-backward sections would get the maximum benefit.
For the EMS Housing Scheme, the government has sanctioned to avail of loans to the tune of Rs.27 crore from the district bank. The government has also sanctioned Rs.8 crore for a special project to repair the rural roads in the district.
A joint enterprise with the Meet Products of India and a Central government allocation of Rs.15 lakh are another highlights, Ms. Rajaji said.
Funds will be allotted to improve the facilities at the district hospital and for the stadium being constructed at Nedumkandam. Projects to benefit people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes categories, especially those living in the tribal settlement areas inside the forests, are another key feature this year.
In the general category, the district panchayat submitted projects worth Rs.9.92 crore. Of this, projects worth Rs.8.77 crore have been cleared.