Thiruvananthapuram: Left Democratic Front (LDF) will organise statewide protests against the alleged reduction in Plan funds allocated to local self-govt institutions in the revised state budget.In a statement issued on Wednesday, LDF convener T P Ramakrishnan said the reduction would seriously affect development activities undertaken by local bodies and place them under severe financial strain.He said 30% of the govt’s budgetary allocation was traditionally earmarked for the annual plans of local bodies, a system followed for the past 30 years. The previous govt’s final budget allocated Rs 692 crore under this head, but the revised budget reduced the allocation to Rs 177 crore, amounting to a cut of Rs 515 crore, he alleged.Ramakrishnan said local bodies would be left with only a nominal amount for development projects after setting aside funds for the LIFE housing scheme and honorariums for anganwadi workers. He added that Plan funds were the only source available to local bodies to meet expenditure on mandatory schemes stipulated by the govt. These included contributions towards Samagra Shiksha Kerala, Vayomithram and Information Kerala Mission.“The govt has adopted an approach that threatens the very survival of local self-govt institutions,” Ramakrishnan alleged. As part of the agitation, corporation and municipal councillors from across the state will march to the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on July 30 under the LDF brass. The march will begin from the Martyrs’ Column at Palayam at 10am. LDF will also organise marches to all grama panchayat offices on Aug 1 and 3, with the participation of elected representatives and members of the public.
