Thrust on welfare measures in Eloor municipal Budget

A proposal to construct an apartment complex for the homeless, help for expanding paddy cultivation initiatives to around 100 acres, and poverty alleviation programmes figure top among proposals in the Eloor municipality’s Budget for 2026-27 fiscal presented on Thursday.

The Budget, presented by municipal vice-chairperson Leela Babu, envisages a revenue of ₹94.4 crore and expenditure of ₹90.7 crore, with a surplus of ₹3.69 crore.

The apartment project is being planned on land owned by the municipality. The Budget has earmarked around ₹50 lakh for preliminary works. The aim is to complete the project by 2028, with help received under corporate social responsibility initiatives and loans. The Budget has earmarked ₹32 lakh to beneficiaries under the general category and ₹50 lakh for Scheduled Caste category for carrying out renovation of their homes.

To complete the construction of the new building of the civic body, the Budget has made an allocation of ₹14.95 crore. It will be implemented on the basis of the detailed project report prepared by the previous council.

The municipal authorities remain hopeful of expanding the area of paddy cultivation to around 100 acres with the help of samithis involving farmers. An allocation of ₹1 lakh has been made to ensure market for their produce. The Budget has made a total allocation of ₹31 lakh for various initiatives in the agricultural sector. It has earmarked ₹1 lakh for animal birth control programmes as part of steps planned to check stray dog menace.

The Budget has earmarked ₹1.5 crore for various poverty alleviation programmes. Other projects and allocations include women empowerment programmes (₹16 lakh), festival for the elderly (₹3 lakh), a park at BUDS school (₹5 lakh), distribution of aids and scholarships and organisation of arts fest for differently abled (₹26 lakh), financial help for girls and women from the Scheduled Caste category (₹2.1 crore), projects in the Health sector (₹1.3 crore), and waste management initiatives (₹86 lakh).