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Focus on farm sector in Kollam panchayat budget

Staff Reporter

Proposes scheme to promote group farming

KOLLAM: The budget for Kollam district panchayat for 2006-07 lays focus on development of agriculture and related activities.

The budget, presented on Wednesday, envisaged revenue of Rs.87,08,19,251 and expenditure of Rs.86,66,28,300.

District panchayat vice-president and chairman of Finance Standing Committee C.P. Sudhesh Kumar presented the budget. Budgetary allocations have been made for 22 sectors. The budget proposed schemes to promote group farming and attract the younger generation to agriculture.

A sum of Rs.1.5 crores has been earmarked for development of the agriculture sector in the district. Fund of Rs.2.63 crores has been set aside for protecting and developing agrarian land.

Funds for dairy sector

Allocation of Rs.1.42 crores has been made for animal husbandry and dairy development projects.

The budget has also made provision for improving facilities at Government hospitals. More medical and para-medical staff would be posted at Government hospitals.

An allocation of Rs. 1.50 crores has been made for the health sector. For all-round development of the fishing sector, with stress on providing job opportunities to women, an allocation of Rs.46 lakhs has been made.

Help for traditional sector

Small and traditional industries with low capital investment and potential to generate employment in the rural sector will be promoted.

A sum of Rs.1.25 crores has been allocated for the purpose. The public education sector gets an allocation of Rs.2.56 crores and the technical education sector, Rs. 20 lakhs.

The budget noted that in the drinking water sector, 230 small-scale projects in 26 grama panchayats and 32 similar projects exclusively for schools were under various stages of implementation. Allocation of Rs.50 lakhs has been made for the total sanitation programme.

A sum of Rs. 4.54 crores has been earmarked for public works, including maintenance of roads and buildings. An allocation of Rs.2.40 crores has been for schemes for welfare of women. Social welfare get an allocation of Rs. 1.94 crores.

The major allocation, of Rs.8 crores, is for the development of the Scheduled Communities. These will include development of colonies and electrification of such colonies.

Allocations have been made for literacy mission and continuing education programme in the district.

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