2025-2026 BUDGET REPORTS
An analytical report on the draft budget of Vechuchira Grama Panchayat for the financial year 2025–26 .
Executive Summary The budget for the financial year 2025–26 is the fifth and final budget to be presented by the current governing body of Vechuchira Grama Panchayat. Presented on 22 March 2025 by Vice President Ponnamma Chacko and supported by Panchayat President T.K. James, the budget highlights a successful turnaround from the previous treasury constraints and staff shortages. The Panchayat now proudly claims the first position in the district in the utilization of project funds. The total financial allocation is balanced as follows: Total Income/Receipts (including opening balance): ₹34,90,17,880 (Rupees Thirty-four Crore Ninety-seven Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty) Total Expenditure: ₹34,56,07,959 (Rupees Thirty-four Crore Fifty-six Lakh Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty-nine) Surplus: ₹34,09,921 (Rupees Thirty-four Lakh Ninety-nine Hundred Twenty-one) Financial Framework (2025–26) The financial health of the Panchayat shows a significant growth in revenue sources as compared to the previous financial years. 1. Sources of Income Own Fund Contribution: Total Internal Fund is expected to rise to ₹2,02,12,000, with tax revenue (₹1,58,00,000) mainly coming from property tax (₹1,20,00,000) and professional tax (₹20,00,000). Plan & Non-Plan Grants: Plan Grants: Expected to be ₹17,63,97,642, showing a huge jump from the revised budget of ₹11,52,91,472 in the previous year. Non-Plan Grants: ₹3,53,50,000 sanctioned. Capital Income: Total ₹7,09,15,677, which includes ₹2,00,00,000 in loans from financial institutions and ₹5,09,15,677 from other sources. 2. Expenditure Share The estimated expenditure is divided into structural activities: Expenditure Category Budget Allocated (2025–26) Statutory Activities (Establishment and Administration) ₹3,11,73,000 Plan Expenditure (Revenue) ₹22,00,59,959 Non-Plan Expenditure (Revenue) ₹3,53,50,000 Capital Expenditure ₹5,90,25,000 Total Expenditure ₹34,56,07,959 Sector-wise Key Highlights and Initiatives 1. Agriculture, Dairying, Fisheries (Production Sector) Vechuchira is described as an agricultural village and agriculture is given a top priority. Agriculture Supports: ₹15,00,000 has been allocated for distribution of organic fertilizers. Another ₹8,00,000 has been allocated for providing HDPE. ₹5,00,000 has been allocated for marginal farmers for grow bags/pots, banana seeds, vegetable seedlings and intercropping. Dairy Sector Leadership: The Panchayat, which holds the first position in the dairy sector in the district, has raised ₹50,00,000 (combining district and block panchayat shares) for cattle feed supply, milk subsidies, mineral mixtures and veterinary clinic medicines. Soil and Water Conservation: ₹1,10,00,000 has been allocated under the decentralized scheme. 2. Waste Management and Sanitation ("Clean Vechuchira") Building on the earlier efforts to bring waste management from "zero to better", large-scale infrastructure investments have been made: Community Insulators: ₹80,00,000 has been allocated for setting up community insulators to collect and treat sanitary waste (pampers, sanitary pads, snuggies) from households and institutions. Grey Water Treatment: ₹2,00,00,000 has been allocated for setting up "grey water" plants at Jawahar Navodaya and Government Polytechnic sites. Other Sanitation Funds: ₹10,00,000 for waste disposal vehicles, ₹10,00,000 for kitchen-waste bio-bins, and ₹15,00,000 for upgrading of Material Collection Facility (MCF). 3. Healthcare and Social Security Welfare of ASHA Workers: Recognizing their low wages, the budget safely guarantees a monthly allowance of ₹2,000 to ASHA workers along with uniform expenses, totaling ₹5,00,000. Infrastructure and Care: ₹60,00,000 has been allocated for the construction of an Ayurvedic hospital in Koothattukulam using MP funds. Palliative care will get ₹13,00,000 and homeopathy and Ayurvedic sectors will get ₹6,00,000. Welfare of Weaker Sections: ₹35,00,000 has been allocated for the welfare of senior citizens, differently-abled persons and children. 4. Education and Women Empowerment “Sundaram Suraksha Komaram”: This much-acclaimed local youth safety initiative is being expanded to include extensive anti-drug and anti-alcohol awareness programmes with a dedicated budget of ₹5,00,000. Skill Development for Girls: Continuous funding is assured for exemplary projects that teach self-defense and well-being to girls through karate, yoga and volleyball. Laptops and Scholarships: Higher education gets a boost with the allocation of ₹15,00,000 for scholarships and distribution of laptops. 5. Housing, Urban