Opposition alleges govt of financially strangling local bodies, stages walkout

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The opposition's allegation about the government not allowing funds to local bodies and the government’s retort on the issue saw heated exchanges in the legislative assembly on Thursday. The opposition alleged that the government of strangling the local bodies by not providing adequate funds and thereby pushing them to redundancy.

However, Minister M B Rajesh retorted that the government gives utmost consideration to the local bodies and has allocated Rs 3887.02 crore in the first three months of this year. The opposition walked out of the House in protest over the Speaker's refusal to allow an adjournment motion.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said that regional development in the state has come to a standstill while the concept of decentralization has gone astray. 40,885 bills worth Rs 1135 crore are pending in the treasuries.

“The plan expenditure for the first quarter of the financial year is zero. If the total expenditure for project allocation is less than 80 per cent, the local bodies will lose the remaining amount. The crisis is in such ruins that a panchayat in Kerala is struggling to even pay the grass cutter his/her salary.

The budget allocation for local bodies, which was Rs 7,209 crore in 2019-20, will reach Rs 7,460 crore in 2023-24, which means an increase of only 250 crore rupees in four years.” Said V D Satheesan.

Minister MB Rajesh said that steps will be taken to alleviate the problems faced by local bodies due to treasury control in the year-end time. In 2023-24, the amount in the treasury queue or its 20 per cent carryover, whichever is more, is being examined to be allocated to the local bodies.

“The grant has been increased to 27.19% in 2023-24 and 28.09% in 2024-25. 24 municipalities have not been paid by the Central Finance Commission.” Minister Rajesh talked about the Center government's move to bypass the state government and allocate funds directly to the local bodies.

T. Siddique, who presented the adjournment motion notice, said that local bodies have been turned into cash cows to bring money for the government's programs. Local bodies are humiliated in public by not allowing them to undertake the work. 105 panchayats have no secretary. Siddique also pointed out that most offices do not have enough staff.