Rs 24,000-crore plan outlay for state

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state cabinet gave sanction for an annual plan of Rs 24,000 crore for the State for 2016-17 financial year, a 20 per cent hike from the current fiscal. The state's gross annual plan would be Rs 30,534 crore, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said. The share of centrally-sponsored projects is Rs 6,534.17 crore. The Planning Board meeting that was convened on December 21 passed the same and had submitted it for the sanction of the Cabinet.

Out of the total Rs 24,000 crore, Rs 5,500 crore is for the local self-government (LSGs). Of this, Rs 500 crore is additional assistance to LSGs. This is 24.43 per cent of the project share, excluding Rs 1485 crore of the Electricity Board.

In the annual plan, Rs 532.80 crore has been set aside for the Scheduled Tribe sub-projects, which is 2.22 per cent of the total plan share. As in the previous years, additional assistance of Rs 150 crore will be given to ST sub-projects. A sum of Rs 682.80 crore has been set aside for STs, which accounts to 2.85 per cent of the State share.

A sum of Rs 2,536.07 crore (10.57 per cent) has been set aside for the development of infrastructure projects.

Significant part of the project is to provide financial assistance to backward grama panchayats and municipalities. One-time grant will be given for developing facilities and income of panchayats. Total of 40 panchayats are expected to get the grant, with each panchayat getting Rs four crore. Municipalities will also get the same amount and one-time grant will be given to 10 municipalities.

Financial assistance will be given to panchayats in 14 tribal clusters. A portion of the fund will be utilised for giving shape to a model panchayat in each district. Performance grant will be given to panchayats and municipalities. This will be provided on the basis of performance in processing of waste, construction of abattoirs, cemetery and renovation of markets. Fund will also be made available for empowering Suchitwa Mission, SIRD, IKM, KILA and Directorate of Panchayats and Urban Affairs.