Mandya ZP presents annual budget

Poor allocation of funds for rural development programmes

The budget was presented by Shivanna, chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance at a special meeting held here on Tuesday. Out of ` 44,645.19 lakh, ` 13,381.34 lakh is fixed under plan sector and ` 31,260.85 lakh under non-plan sector which indicates an increase by 0.5 per cent and 11.26 per cent respectively. In the current fiscal, 43.9 per cent of funds has been reserved for ZP plan programmes, 35.19 per cent for taluk panchayat programmes and 20.90 per cent for gram panchayat programmes.

 The Department of Panchayat Raj and Social Welfare have got priority. While ` 1032 lakh is earmarked for Department of Social Welfare, ` 458.02 lakh for Department of Backward Classes, ` 955 lakh for nutritious food, ` 544 lakh for rural development programmes, ` 1,666.87 lakh for Panchayat Raj institutions and ` 681 lakh for houseless of rural areas.
 The wages to be given for daily wagers is hiked to ` 125 and special impetus is given for horticultural crops.

Chief Executive Officer Jairam, Vice-President Jayalakshmamma and Standing Committees chairmen Manchegowda and Madappa were present.

Leader of the Opposition Basavaraj commented that the budget had failed to give impetus for rural development and said the budget has been prepared as per directions of the government.

Ruling Party Leader Dr Shankargowda took the officials to task for earmarking ` 10 lakh for development of agricultural marketing.

Besides, the budget had totally ignored art and culture by earmarking meagre funds.