Housing, Urban Employment, and Public Health have been identified as the thrust areas in Varkala municipality's budget for 2012-13.
The Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme and the EMS Housing Scheme received substantial allocation in the budget presented by the deputy chairperson and chairperson of the finance standing Committee S. Sumaiya.
Presenting the budget in the council that was chaired by chairperson K. Suryaprakash on Thursday, the deputy chairperson said the budget anticipated an income of Rs.31.38 crore and an expenditure of Rs.26.49 crore. The Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme has been provided with Rs.2.50 crore and the EMS Housing Scheme, Rs.2.60 crore.
A sum of Rs.1 crore has been allocated for construction of buildings for Anganwadis in the Varkala municipal limits. Public health has got Rs.1.20 crore in the budget.
Mr. Sumaiya said streetlights were to be installed in the municipality at a cost of Rs.9.50 lakh and Rs.94 lakh had been given for social welfare schemes. Slum eradication is given Rs.38 lakh in the budget. A sum of Rs.1.5 lakh is given for a home for the destitute. But the municipality is yet to have such a facility.
A sum of Rs.1.5 lakh has been allocated for the elimination of street dogs and rats. The computerisation of the municipal office is to be taken up at a cost of Rs.55 lakh.
The budget discussions will be held on Friday.