Culture and health get their dues

Kochi: Kochi corporation authorities have announced a lot of commitments for the development of cultural space in the city. G memorial, construction of cultural centres to commemorate prominent figures in the sphere of art and culture, lecture series on life and vision of Sree Narayana Guru, etc. are some among them.

The budget has earmarked Rs 1 crore for constructing a memorial for poet G Sankara Kurup, the first recipient of Jnanpith award. Another announcement is that cultural complexes to commemorate poet and reformist Pandit Karuppan, Bharath award winner and theatre personality P J Antony and music composer M K Arjunan will be constructed.

Kochi will be made a permanent venue of international film festival. The city will host drama fest, dance-music festival and lit fest every year. Mattancherry town hall will be converted into a cultural centre, the deputy mayor announced in the budget.

There are notable announcements for the health sector as well. The budget has allocated Rs 10 crore for various projects in the health sector. More Covid first-line treatment centres (CFLTCs) will be started in the city. Three ambulances will be purchased for carrying out Covid-related activities.

Besides the project to introduce health cards to every denizen, the budget announces proposals for preventing contagious diseases. An action plan for preventing lifestyle diseases will be prepared with the support of IMA, various hospitals in the city, NGOs, residents’ associations, Kudumbashree and other volunteers. A task force will be constituted under the leadership of corporation health standing committee chairman.

Doctor at Home, a project to provide consultation of doctors at home in emergency cases, will be implemented. More palliative care centres will be started and the activities of existing ones will be improved.