Engandiyur
Grama Panchayat

Engandiyur Grama Panchayat

Budget 2025-26 - Summary (22/03/2025)

Opening Balance: ₹28,28,890/- (Rupees 28 Lakhs 28 Thousand 890), Expected Receipts: ₹35,44,19,000/- (Rupees 35 Crores 44 Lakhs 19 Thousand), Expected Expenditure: ₹35,45,09,000/- (Rupees 35 Crores 45 Lakhs 9 Thousand) : Surplus: ₹27,38,890/- (Rupees 27 Lakhs 38 Thousand 890)

Receipts

Following the property tax revision effective from 01/04/2023, the growth in revenue from property tax and permit fees is expected to continue next year as well. The total tax revenue is estimated at ₹1 Crore. Under this, ₹78 Lakhs is expected from property tax and ₹22 Lakhs from profession tax. With the introduction of the K-SMART service system, applications are expected to become transparent, thereby bringing higher receipts into the own fund in the form of fees. Non-tax revenue is estimated to reach ₹65.53 Lakhs.

A general purpose grant of ₹1.65 Crores for the own fund will be available from the Government. It is anticipated that ₹21.24 Crores will be available for project expenditures, and around ₹10 Crores will be available for non-project expenditures, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (welfare pensions, literacy programs, departmental funds, etc.).

Expenditure

It is estimated that around ₹3.31 Crores per year will be required to meet the Panchayat's increasing and essential obligations, such as salaries, honorariums, water, electricity, vehicles, wages, and computer maintenance.

Key Focus Areas in the Budget

Productive Sector

An allocation of ₹1.22 Crores has been made for the productive sector in the budget, ensuring that the Engandiyur Grama Panchayat remains committed to understanding and addressing the needs of farmers. The Panchayat has decided to undertake soil and water conservation works worth ₹3.5 Crores under the Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The budget underlines the Panchayat's firm resolve to conserve biodiversity and minimize the environmental impact of development as part of the Haritha Keralam Mission.

To protect the agricultural sector, which was devastated by floods and heavy rains, an adequate fund of ₹34 Lakhs has been allocated to promote coconut farming and organic vegetable cultivation. To improve the flow of the Canoli Canal, pressure is being exerted on the district administration to dredge the silt and waste accumulated in the Chettuva River. Special emphasis is given to the animal husbandry sector through cattle feed distribution, calf care, milk distribution subsidy, and the ABC (Animal Birth Control) program. It has been decided to distribute seeds, fertilizers, and lime at the Panchayat level for coconut and vegetable farming.

The Panchayat will strive to rescue poor farmers from debt traps and distress. For soil and water conservation, the Grama Panchayat aims to upgrade most of its 10 sluice gates to mechanical shutters. Efforts will particularly be made in the next financial year to implement a mechanical shutter system at Padanna Sluice, which is the largest sluice gate.

Service Sector

A sum of ₹13 Crores has been set aside in the budget for the service sector. Out of this, ₹10 Crores is allocated for LIFE Housing, the flagship program of the government. An amount of ₹43 Lakhs is earmarked for women and child welfare programs, including Anganwadi nutrition. The budget extends comprehensive support towards gender equality and the upliftment of women, prioritizing gender justice and poverty alleviation, which are becoming indispensable in administration.

The Panchayat has set aside ₹31 Lakhs for elderly care and the palliative care project. The budget has also successfully allocated ₹23 Lakhs for children and persons with disabilities. Departing from previous years, this budget places immense importance on youth welfare. In order to counter the commercial interests of private educational institutions, the governing body has decided to give significant encouragement to public education facilities as well as cultural and artistic activities, reflecting the priority given to the youth in this budget.

Engandiyur Grama Panchayat attaches great importance to sanitation. An amount of ₹39 Lakhs has been explicitly allocated for the sanitation sector. Additionally, ₹41 Lakhs has been earmarked for health and drinking water facilities. The Panchayat has also included funds in its annual plan to renovate all Anganwadis to make them child-friendly.

The Panchayat places immense importance on the upliftment of marginalized communities. An amount of ₹2.40 Crores has been allocated targeting the comprehensive development of Scheduled Castes (SC). Furthermore, attention is drawn to the inclusion of Ethai Scheduled Caste Nagar in the State Government’s Ambedkar Gramam Project. The budget sets aside ₹14 Lakhs for welfare of the elderly, ₹6 Lakhs for the destitute, and ₹21 Lakhs for persons with disabilities. Moreover, numerous projects are intended for the development of marginalized sections through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Kudumbashree projects. The Panchayat has resolved to handhold and uplift these sections into the mainstream by providing land to the landless, house construction, house renovation, and other livelihoods.

It is happily announced that the Panchayat intends to take steps to fulfill the long-cherished dream of the residents of Engandiyur Grama Panchayat to have their own playground. A project is also being prepared for the beautification of the MCF crematorium compound by creating a water body.

Infrastructure and Tourism

The Panchayat expects that the completion of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which currently faces completion anxieties, will put an end to the drinking water scarcity. Despite numerous financial crises, the Panchayat gives high priority to infrastructure development. Great importance is given to development activities aimed at maintaining ISO standards for the Grama Panchayat Office, which serves as the Panchayat Headquarters. Modernized service facilities have been implemented in the front office by arranging seating facilities, entertainment options, excellent toilet facilities, a reading corner, and a help desk.

It is intended to spend around ₹2.30 Crores on road development, culverts, and low-level bridges (chappaths), and ₹10 Lakhs on the renovation of public buildings and canals. In the energy sector, priority has been given to the electrification of streetlights and line extensions. Since our Panchayat is a place where backwaters and the sea merge, it holds immense potential for tourism.

The development of the Chettuva river mouth, which gives prominence to tourism and increasing the income of fishermen, is in its initial stages under the consideration of the Government. For this, MP, MLA, and Government funds will be utilized to the maximum extent. It is expected that the development of Chettuva Fort, the construction of the Ramu Kariat Memorial Building, and highway development will be completed within this year itself. This development-oriented budget, which intends to give a major boost to the protection and development of public assets, is presented before the members of the governing body for discussion and approval.

Presented by: Shri. B.K. Sudarsanan, Vice President, Engandiyur Grama Panchayat