Kudumbasree to be extended to 250 more panchayats

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 31. The Minister for Local Self Government, Mr. Cherkalam Abdulla, said here today that the Kudumbasree scheme would be extended to 250 more panchayats in the State.

The programme would be reorganised to include more members below the poverty line, and cover the districts of Kasaragod and Wayanad in full. The programme had already been implemented in 50 panchayats in the State, the Minister said.

He said that many people living below the poverty line (BPL) had not found a place in the list prepared after the survey to identify BPL families. So, the Centre had been requested to modify the criteria for identifying the families.

He said that the urban policy of the Government would be announced next week. The performance audit of the local bodies other than village panchayats had been completed and the Government had received the report today. The guidelines for social audit of the local bodies would be finalised by September 30.

Mr. Abdulla announced that the Government would issue guidelines for assessing property tax on the basis of zone, plinth area, and age of buildings. A management system would be introduced to improve the administrative efficiency of local bodies.

He said the term of the Information Kerala Mission had been extended by 12 months. Local bodies would be linked through a network by September next year. Steps would be taken for computerisation of 28 municipalities.

He said the Canal Walk project in Thiruvananthapuram would be carried out without harming the interests of anybody. Though areas close to the canal had been declared a controlled area, the notification did not prohibit transfer of the property. The Government also had no intention to acquire these areas. Only areas indicated earlier would be acquired.

He said the Government had not thought of dissolving the ombudsman for local self-Governments. The Kerala Urban Development Finance Corporation would be reconstituted. An infrastructure development cell would be set up at the Department of Municipal Administration.

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Section  : Southern States
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