: It was just before the local body polls in 2010 that Elathur Panchayat was attached to the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation. Five years later, the six wards of the Corporation that earlier belonged to the panchayat, have undergone many changes, both positive and negative.
The greatest advantage for these wards of being part of the Corporation is that more money has started flowing in. “The funds available for development activities is very limited in a panchayat. On the other hand, it is much more in a Corporation,” said Kattadath Hajara, councillor of Eranhikkal ward who is now contesting as a CPI(M) candidate from Puthur ward, both attached from Elathur panchayat. She said she had enough funds to lay and repair roads, drainages, footpaths and to set up high mast lights.
The Corporation had schemes for construction and repair of houses for the fishermen, who constitute a large part of the population in her ward. Funds were also allotted for infrastructure development in schools and anganwadis as well.
“The living standards have certainly improved,” she pointed out.
However, the Opposition has quite a different opinion on the improvements in the region, even while they agree that some people have had personal benefits. “But the schemes are not different from that of the panchayat. Only that there is more fund and hence more beneficiaries,” said C.M. Sunil Kumar, councillor of Elathur ward.
With the centre of administration shifting from the locality to the heart of the city, people of the erstwhile Elathur panchayat have to reach the Corporation Office on Kozhikode Beach for documents such as birth and death certificates.
The Corporation has opened a Zonal Office in Elathur, but it is not of much use, Mr.Sunil Kumar said. “The increase in taxes is bothering the general public”, he said, while Ms.Hajara does not agree to it.
In 2010, LDF had won five of the six wards in the region while UDF had one. “We have a chance in at least three wards.
There is an anti-government feeling in these parts”, Mr.Sunil Kumar said, while Hajara is confident that LDF will sweep all six wards.
