In the absence of the elected body, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Administrator of Nagpur Zilla Parishad Vinayak Mahamuni, on Wednesday presented the Zilla Parishad budget of approximately Rs 46.55 crore for 2025-26, focusing on adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology in healthcare, education and social welfare. Interacting with mediapersons, Mahamuni claimed that it was the best Zilla Parishad budget so far which had given equal importance to all departments. “There is no ‘cut’ in budget of any department this year. This year, we prepared the budget, keeping the requirements of people in mind,” said the CEO. The Zilla Parishad owes stamp fee of Rs 168 crore to the State Government in which Rs 27 crore will be paid by the Government and remaining will be borne by the Zilla Parishad.

 

The budget for the financial year 2024-25 was Rs 42.33 crore. The budget was presented by the then Finance Chairman Rajkumar Kusumbe. During COVID-19 period in 2021-22, Zilla Parishad Nagpur presented the lowest budget of Rs 18.28 crore. Whereas, in 2022-23 financial year, the budget was Rs 39.62 crore. In 2023-24, the budget was Rs 41.66 crore, and in 2024-25, the budget was Rs 42.33 crore. The administration is planning to establish AI-enabled interactive learning technology in 4-5 Aanganwadis in Nagpur district in this financial year. Under this pilot project, Zilla Parishad will procure Virtual Reality (VR) headsets for these Anganwadis in which students can get education with the help of AI.

 

The syllabus will be designed accordingly. The administration is currently identifying such Anganwadis which have proper facilities to adopt the technology, informed the CEO. Similarly, around 4 to 5 Zilla Parishad schools in the district will also get the AI-enabled interactive learning technique benefits in coming days. The Education Department will design the syllabus of Class 5 to 9 accordingly by keeping Bal Bharti books as syllabus. Garment cluster for livelihood of women Zilla Parishad will set up a garment cluster in which 80-85 women can manufacture school uniforms, NCC uniforms and other bulk garments for Government-run establishments in the district. Administration will establish this garment cluster in the Samaj Bhavan of Zilla Parishad in which all the machinery will be procured by the administration. “This initiative will help in boosting the livelihood of women, who will work in this cluster and also raise earning of Zilla Parishad,” said Mahamuni.

 

Agriculture drones to sprinkle pesticides Nagpur Zilla Parishad is planning to purchase five drones for sprinkling pesticides in agriculture fields. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will train farmers and farmer producer units to fly these drones. These drones are capable of sprinkling pesticide in one hectare land in just 7-8 minutes. It will help to save the labour cost of farmers. Modernisation of veterinary dispensaries Administration will modernise and renovate all 90-95 veterinary dispensaries in the district soon. Under this initiative, tables, chairs, lights, plumbing fittings, and other equipment will be purchased. For this initiative, administration is allocating a budget of Rs 1.60 crore to Animal Husbandry Department.

 

“The budget will be utilised only for asset building and no fund will be utilised for other purposes,” CEO added. District to get six smart Public Health Centres soon Keeping the man-animal conflict in mind, the district administration is going to establish six smart Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the district soon. These PHCs will have state-of-the-art facilities for patients and for this, Zilla Parishad received a fund of Rs 15 crore. Around Rs 70 lakh will be utilised for construction of compound walls and other maintenance work of existing PHCs, whereas Rs 1.50 crore will be used for modular Operation Theatre (OT).