KOCHI: While Kochi Corporation and many of the other municipalities in the district lag much behind in Plan fund utilisation and implementation of development and welfare programmes, Ernakulam district panchayat and Mulanthuruthy panchayat have been selected as the second best local bodies for the 2016-17 fiscal across the state based on performance in various sectors like utilisation of Plan funds.
The two civic bodies will get the Swaraj trophy and cash prize instituted by the State government for the second best district panchayat and grama panchayat. In 2016, Ernakulam district panchayat was selected as the best district panchayat for its noteworthy performance during 2015-16 fiscal. A host of schemes rolled out by the local body during 2016-17 such as geriatric centre for the elderly, cloth bag manufacturing units in all wards, organic farming and 100 per cent of fund utilisation in Indira Awaz Yojana have helped it to win the prestigious award.
The district panchayat has also won the Kayakalpa award for the remarkable achievements in health sector including disease prevention and upkeep of the district hospital at Aluva. Various projects are being implemented at the district Ayurveda hospital, Kacheripady. Asha Sanil, district panchayat president will receive the award during a function to be held at Perinthalmanna on Monday. Mulanthuruthy which won several awards in recent years for remarkable achievements in various sectors has once again got the Swaraj trophy.
The local body has the distinction of using the entire funds allocated for the 2016 – 17 financial year. The panchayat has utilized 100 per cent of the Plan funds, maintenance funds, own funds and other agencies’ funds and could also collect 97 per cent of the total tax. The civic body could also improve the functioning of ward level jagrutha samithis, legal aid cell, Nirbhaya help desk and ward level committees.
