Kozhikode District Panchayat Budget focusses on health, agriculture

Kozhikode district panchayat launches comprehensive campaign against drug abuse, allocates funds for various development projects.

The Kozhikode district panchayat will take the initiative for a comprehensive campaign against drug abuse in the district, ensuring the participation of all citizens.

Presenting the district panchayat’s Budget for the financial year 2025-26 and the revised Budget for the financial year 2024-25 on Tuesday, vice president P. Gavas sought the cooperation of all local bodies in the district in the endeavour. The plan is to conduct a widespread awareness campaign across the district in April and May, including arts and sports competitions, painting sessions, campus and family reunions, and vigilance summits. A night march will be held at Balussery in April, and a ‘2 million pledge’ will be held on June 23 in which over 20 lakh people are expected to participate.

Mr. Gavas presented a Budget of ₹127.12 crore with a closing balance of ₹11.27 crore. Some of the major allocations include ₹4.09 crore for the agriculture sector of which ₹33 lakh will be set apart to install solar fencing to ward off wild animals, especially in upland regions.

An allocation of ₹50 lakh has been made for a state-of-the-art auditorium and ₹5 lakh for initial works to bring the ‘Kuttiyady coconut’ to the attention of the Ministry for Industries and Commerce to obtain a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the product. Another ₹5.45 lakh has been allocated for various activities in the tourism sector including a Fam Tourism Festival.

An amount of ₹10 lakh has been set aside for constructing a viewpoint watchtower at Thevarmala in Thiruvambady. There is an allocation of ₹7.75 crore for activities in the health sector. As much as ₹10 lakh has been set aside for initial works for a cancer care centre at Thengilakkadavu in Mavoor under the newly formed Cancer Care Society.

The district panchayat is also planning a comprehensive study on biodiversity in the Janakikkadu region with the help of the District Biodiversity Board, considering its alleged link to the recurrence of Nipah infection in the region. The protection of the Kuttiyady ghat section is a priority project of the district panchayat for which ₹30 lakh has been allocated.

A civil dispensary on the Civil Station premises where the district panchayat office is located is another pet project for which ₹50 lakh has been allocated. The dispensary, to be set up with the help of the Department of Health, will cater for employees at the civil station.