Nagpur Municipal Corporation Standing Committee Chief Prakash Bhioyar presented Rs 2769.07 crore budget for the year 2021-22on Friday, with emphasis on developing health facilities. The emphasis was a result of difficulties faced during Covid pandemic throughout the year.
The budget meeting was held by following lockdown protocol, under the chairmanship of mayor Dayashankar Tiwari. It was held in video conferencing mode. Besides providing advanced health facilities, strict measures to improve financi9al condition of NMC was spelled out by Bhoyar. Instead of starting new programmes, emkphasis has been laid on completing the pending works and curtailing unnecessary expenditure.
By bringing forward balance amount of Rs 320 crore of the last year, Bhoyar presented a surplus budget. According to him Rs 30 crore will be sdaved on completion of the said budget of this yea financial year.
Vande Mataram Public Health Centres: NMC plans to start 75 public health posts to mark 75th year of Independence. The ambitious programme to provide better health services will be launched on August 15, 2021. These centres will be named after 75 martyrs who laid their lives for freedom of the nation. These martyrs will be those who were awarded gallantry awards like Paramveer Chakra, Ashok Chakra etc. Information and photographs of these martyrs will be displayed at these centres. NMC will make available infrastructure and other facilities at these centres.
Eyesight Improvement Programme: Free surgeries will be performed upon those suffering from squint probolems. The operations will be carried out with the help of Dr Mahatme Eye Hospital and Eye Bank.
Similarly under ‘Mahapaur Netra Jyoti Yojana’, free cataract operations will be carried out and free spectacles will be given by the Municipal Corporation. This programme will also be conducted in collaboration with Dr Mahatme Eye Hospital and Eye Bank.
Drug Bank: In an effort to provide life saving medicines to the needy, a Drug Bank will be formed with the help of social organisations and business houses. The medicines will be given to persons from ec0onomically weaker sections, who cannot afford the costly medicines.
Similar Bank will be formed of medical equipment. After temporary use many medical equipment or supporting tools remain idle. They can be given by NMC for a nominal charge to the needy persons.
Mother Milk Bank: This is an ambitious programme planned by NMC. Importance of mother’s milk has been often talked about. However, some mothers face problems in proper lactation. Those mothers who can provide milk for other infacnts will be motivated to donate the milk. This milk can be stored for a short period and given to infants in need. Initially the project will be started in NMC’s Maternity Home in Panchpaoli.
Day Care Centre and research Centre for diagnosis and treatment of Sickle Cell has also been proposed in the budget. This centre would be equipped to handle cases from entire Vidarbha region.
NMC has also offered 10% rebate on payment of pending property tax before June 30 and 5% if paid before December 31. QR code will be printed on the demand note of property tax, to facilitate on-line payment. NMC expects to generate a revenue of Rs 289.43 crore from property tax, Bhoyar stated. Another source of revenue of Rs 201.04 crore is stated to be One Time Settlement from regularization of illegal tap connections.
Super 75: On the line of And Kumar’s Super 30 project, NMC plans to select Super 75 students from its schools. These students, 25 each for JEE, PMT and NDA will be imparted training and guidance for four years.
Bhoyar also spoke about provision for other works, including Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Birth Centenary memorial, First Phase of Balasaheb Thackeray Educational, Sports and Cultural Complex, rain water harvesting, installation of sewage treatment plants on nullahs near gardens, purchase of 1000 oxygen cylinders etc