Kolanukonda Shivaji, APCC Vice President

By The Capital

On 12 Nov 2024 15:12:03

Kolanukonda Shivaji, APCC Vice President

The budget presented by the coalition government in the state, amounting to Rs 2.94 lakh crore, appeared lacklustre.

The budget presented by the coalition government in the state, amounting to Rs 2.94 lakh crore, appeared lacklustre. There was a noticeable disconnect between the promises made and the allocations outlined in the budget. During the 2024 elections, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) made six key promises known as the ‘Super Six,’ but these were largely overlooked in the budget.

In his budget speech, Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav announced a forthcoming free travel facility for women on RTC buses but did not provide further details. The TDP and Janasena had promised to pay an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month to 20 lakh unemployed youth in the state, along with Rs 1,500 per month to every woman over the age of 18.

However, these commitments were not addressed in the budget speech, and there were inadequate allocations for essential sectors. The Rs 16,705 crore allocated for irrigation projects is insufficient for their construction. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the Rs 15,000 crore provided by international organizations will be a grant or a loan. Increasing the electricity true-up charges is seen as an additional burden on the people.

A significant issue in the state is the poor condition of the roads. The government had claimed that potholes would be filled by Sankranti, yet there has been no progress reflected in the budget regarding road construction. There is also no mention of fee reimbursement payments for students affected by the previous government, nor is there any plan outlined for providing house plots or constructing homes for the underprivileged. Furthermore, a discrepancy of Rs 32,000 crore exists between income and expenditure, but no explanation has been given on how this gap will be addressed. The debt burden incurred by the previous government remains a pressing concern, with loan payments, including interest, exceeding Rs 50,000 crore, indicating a dire financial situation.

The government must prioritize reducing this debt burden. Minister Atchan Naidu introduced a budget of over Rs 43,000 crore specifically for agriculture. He had promised during the election that every farmer would receive Rs 20,000 annually as investment assistance, as part of the Super Six. The minister stated that, in addition to the Rs 6,000 provided by the Center, farmers will begin receiving investment assistance under the 'Annadata Sukhibhav' scheme next year, with Rs 4,500 crore allocated for this purpose. However, to fulfill the promise of Rs 20,000 in investment assistance for nearly 52 lakh farmers, more than Rs 10,000 crore would be necessary.

The question arises: how can this promise be delivered with less than half of the required funding? The coalition government should transparently explain the state’s fraught financial situation to the people, rather than simply making grand claims. Instead of continuously raising expectations for miraculous outcomes, the focus should shift to taking meaningful actions to address the state's challenges.