The Kozhikode district panchayat could utilise only 6% of funds allotted to it in the first quarter (April-June) of this financial year.
A meeting to review the progress of the execution of schemes of local bodies at the collectorate on Thursday found that 70 grama panchayats had spent 12.36% of the allotted funds for 2018-19, whereas the 12 block panchayats and the Kozhikode district panchayat spent 10.97% and 6.03% respectively.
The three-tier local bodies in the district have, on average, spent 11.62% of the yearly Plan funds allocated to them in the first three months of the current financial year. The performance of the Kozhikode Corporation was comparatively good in the beginning of the financial year. The civic body was able to utilise 13.98% of the allocated funds. The seven municipalities in the district spent 10.43%.
Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel, who chaired the meeting, sought the opinion of the heads of local bodies and secretaries on the progress of LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) Mission that envisaged a comprehensive housing scheme for all landless and homeless people and disbursement of welfare schemes to beneficiaries and spillover projects.
He urged officials that the beneficiaries should not be denied the privileges under the government-sponsored housing scheme just because their names did not figure in the ration cards. Beneficiaries can repay the loan offered under LIFE Mission in 15 years, Mr. Jaleel said.
He added that only six grama panchayats had so far submitted their projects for 2018-19 to the respective block panchayats. However, 21 grama panchayats have prepared 1,452 projects for the fiscal. As many as 70 local bodies are yet to submit their projects, he said.
The Minister also presented awards to the best performing local bodies in the district. District Collector U.V. Jose, Mayor Thottathil Raveendran, District Planning Officer A.A. Sheela, and presidents and secretaries of local bodies attended the review meeting.