Welfare schemes, WiFi, BBMP budget just got Bruhat

Helipads, free Wi-Fi at 400 locations, gifts to girl children born on January 1 — the BBMP budget is a real people-pleaser. Granted, the economically backward and marginalised classes have plenty to look forward to, from low cost medication and free dialysis at BBMP hospitals. However, initiatives like Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Jayanthi at Rs 1.5 lakh per ward have invited the wrath of residents and activists alike. Misplaced priorities and ostentatious efforts rule the budget, report Aksnisree Karthik and Chandrashekar G.

The BBMP budget is out and it says all the things we want to hear, with its allocation of Rs 9,236 crore. Helipads for air taxis, air ambulance services, free WiFi at 400 spots, large-scale rainwater harvesting, free blood pressure and sugar tablets for the poor, dialysis centres at BBMP hospitals and the construction of 1000 public toilets through PPPs, as well as health coverage for civic reporters are some of the most popular offerings. A fixed deposit of Rs 5 lakh will be provided to girl children born on New Year's Day as well.     

The budget was presented by Mr Mahadev, Chairman, Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance, representing JD(S), called it a comprehensive development budget that gives impetus to solving the city's burning problems. It also focuses on conservation of environment, water, cultural heritage, welfare of backward and other marginalised classes.

Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for helipads in eight zones, which will provide air ambulances and facilitate VIP movement. 10% of total expenditure will be reserved for rainwater harvesting, pits in parks, schools, colleges and open spaces.

With assistance from the state government, free WiFi will be available at 400 spots in Bengaluru. Mr Mahadev also proposed the constitution of a Revenue Vigilance Cell under the Special Commissioner (Finance) to monitor and garner additional resource mobilisation to BBMP and sasid the estimated property tax collection at Rs 3317 crore.

"Financial assistance will be given to the construction of individual houses to SC/ST beneficiaries and will be increased to Rs 5 lakhs per beneficiary. Assistance will also be provided for the specially abled and provide Jaipur foot, tricycles, walkers, medical assistance and reimbursement of education fees." Mr Mahadev said.

For senior citizens, hypertensive and diabetic medicines will be distributed to the eligible for free. For transgenders, driving light motor vehicles will be given for free to encourage self-employment free pushcarts will be given to them.
Girl children born on January 1 in all 24 maternity hospitals of the palike will get a Rs 5 lakh fixed deposit to enable education. Rs 1.20 crore has been allocated. Janoushadha centres will commence in BBMP hospitals and Indira canteens to distribute low-cost medicines to the needy and health kits will be provided to postnatal mothers at BBMP hospitals.

For racing enthusiasts, Bellahali dumping yard filled with garbage and construction debris will be developed into a race track. Marching towards 'digital corporation', Mr Mahadev said that all circulars, meeting notices and proceedings and other information will be circulated in electronic form and Aadhar number based biometric attendance system will be implemented in all the BBMP zones.

Populist schemes to woo urban voter, infrastructure forgotten
Ahead of general assembly polls, the BBMP presented a budget with an outlay of Rs 9,326.87 crore for 2018-19, emphasising populist and welfare schemes to create another please-all budget instead of the much needed infrastructure boost. BBMP taxation and finance committee chairman M. Mahadev (JD(S) corporator) presented the budget and has not failed to woo the urban voter.  As such, the civic  body has doled out facilities like free WiFi at 400 spots including major roads, bus stands and BBMP offices.

Promising a clean and green Bengaluru the budget has listed two ambitious projects to generate power from waste. Rs. 50 crore has been earmarked to generate electricity from waste at Kannahalli and Mavallipura landfills. It also proposes to levy a penalty on illegal dumpers - Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh for dumping garbage and debris at drains and lakes.  

The girl child born after January 1, will get a cheque for Rs. 5 lakh which benefits baby's education. Janaoushada centres where medicines will be given for lesser prices will have units at BBMP hospitals and Indira canteens. The budget also has some populist serves like air ambulances, Rs 5 crore has been allocated to each zone. The Bellahalli quarry which is filled with debris will be given a new shape -race track to facilitate motar sports. The BBMP did not forget to reproduce list of infrastructure projects announced in the state budget.

Budget highlights

• With assistance from state government, free wifi will be provided at 400 locations in the city.
• Bellahali dumping yard filled with garbage and construction debris will be developed into a race track
• Five crore rupees is earmarked to construct helipads in eight zones to provide air ambulance services and for easy movement of VIPs
• First girl child born on 1st Jan 2019 or after new year in all 24 maternity hospitals of the palike will be provided with Rs 5 lakh fixed deposit enabling good education to each of the child.
• Construction of 1000 public toilets on PPP basis
• Financial assistance will be provided for specially abled persons and providing Jaipur foot, tricycles, walkers, medical assistance and reimbursement of education fees.
• 10 percent of the total estimated expenditure will be reserved for rainwater harvesting structures and pits in

Over the top budget, leaky revenue: expert
While BBMP Mayor Mr Sampath Raj and BBMP commissioner claim to have completed works from BBMP's 2017-18 budget to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore out of Rs 9,995 crore, experts say this budget is just aimed at upcoming elections.
Speaking to DC, Mr D S Rajashekar, president of Citizen's Action Forum said "Budget is just aimed at upcoming elections and has sops for poor, senior citizens and middle class."

While the previous year's budget itself stands not fulfilled and still remains on paper. This year too the civic body has gone over boards and have presented Rs 9,326 crore, Mr Rajashekar lamented and added that BBMP is failing to augment its revenue. "Be it in the collection of property tax, advertisement revenue, OFC cables, there are many ways in which BBMP can augment its revenue. But in this budget too they are expecting over Rs 3,000 crores from state grants" he added.

Lack of discipline making a mockery of city: Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation
In spite of failing by 25% in revenue receipts last year we are back to the imaginary target of Rs.9322.48 Crores. While the Budgeted Receipts for the Financial Year 2017-18 were anticipated at Rs. 9995.81 Crores the actual realized Receipts were Rs. 7513.98 Crores. Such lack of discipline in budgeting amounts to mocking at all of “us Bengalureans”. Starting with the Jazzy Free WiFi promise made again this year to be provided in 400 places, this is a promise being repeated often since 2015.

Instead of embarking on celebrating Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Jayanthi at the cost of 1.5 lakhs per ward, a much better tribute to the legend would have been to strive to protect the lakes that he built with so much care and foresight. Similarly, while celebrating Dr. BR. Ambedkar Jayanthi at a similar cost in each ward, the right tribute would have been to conduct ward committee meetings regularly and ensure their rightful responsibility in each ward is ensured.

If constructing “Mayor Nivas”, “Commissioner Nivas” and procuring cars for visiting dignitaries are the major Administrative reforms proposed, we all need to sit up and take notice and probably rethink of the direction our city administration is heading to. Only positive green shoot in that section is the introduction of Online File Monitoring System to be implemented in the Head Office. Hope this will improve responses to the RTIs filed by citizens!

I do hope BBMP will show more importance to the need of leaky revenue collection and tighten expenditure monitoring and keep a better tab on its overall affairs than it has shown in gifting tabs to the corporators in an effort to make our corporation a “Digital Corporation”.

Why haven’t citizen inputs been considered?: sapna karim, civic head, janagraha
BBMP has set a budget of 9322 cr for 2018-19. This is marginally lower than last year's budget which was 9997 cr. The revised estimate for this year stands at 7514 cr which is a variance of 25% and not a healthy sign. The dependency on state grants is down to 39% from 51% this year. However, we still do not see the BBMP aspiring to become more self sufficient. Property tax is the biggest source of own  revenues.  This years collection is 68% of the planned target of 2600 cr, lower than the last two  years.

The GIS based property identification project if completed well and implemented could more than double the property tax potential of the city. The MyCityMyBudget campaign saw citizens submit 67533 budget inputs for 2018-19. It would be good to see how these inputs get incorporated into ward level works. BBMP has indicated that it woild put out information at the ward level. This will be a good initiative and important to deepen transparency and build greater collaboration with citizens.