Local bodies earn praise, to receive health grants

T’puram: The local bodies earned a word of praise from finance minister KN Balagopal who presented the revised state budget on Friday. The minister said that LSGs have rendered unique service in Covid prevention activities.
“Through quarantine centres, FLTCs, SLTCs, DCCs, local self-governments could prevent the spread of the disease and ensure better treatment, care, medicine and food for patients. Prevention of disease could be ensured by coordinating ward-level committees, rapid response teams, volunteers, youth organizations etc. The community kitchen activities undertaken through mass participation during lockdown period are commendable,” he said.
Over the past two months, local bodies have been fully occupied with the constitution of rapid response teams and ward-level monitoring committees for Covid management. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also stressed on the need for local bodies to step up in various activities related to managing Covid-19. The establishment and running of care centres has played a crucial role in easing the burden on hospitals. Besides, local bodies also took measures to work with health department to ensure oxygen supply in various care facilities.
The minister said that Kerala has effectively made use of decentralization in revamping the health sector. Fifteenth finance commission has appreciated this intervention of the state and has commented that other states shall strengthen their health systems like Kerala model under the leadership of local government institutions. This is a matter of pride for Kerala, said Balagopal.
The 15th Finance Commission allocated Rs 70,051 crore across India as health grant for five years from 2021-22 of which Kerala’s allocation for the next five years is Rs 2,968 crore. The minister said that Rs 559 crore will be allocated this financial year. This will be provided to local governments and utilized for strengthening family health sub-centres, family health centres, CHCs, urban primary health centres etc.