Hyderabad: Telangana's vote-on-account budget, presented by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday, has reflected the electoral promises made by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) with a thrust on the welfare schemes.
KCR had presented Rs 182017 crore budget for 2019-20 with an estimated revenue expenditure of Rs 132629 crore. The 2018-19 budget was also presented with a revised budget expenditure showcasing a surplus of Rs 353 crore
Before the elections, TRS had emphasised on various aspects such as enhancing Rythu Bandhu investment assistance (for both kharif and rabi seasons), doubling Aasara pensions, farm loan waiver and much more, with emphasis on improving irrigation, agriculture and welfare schemes.
As a part of its budgetary allocations, the Telangana government has proposed to waive all agriculture-term loans up to Rs 1 lakh, outstanding as on December 11' 2018.
"Towards this, an amount of Rs 6000 crore has been proposed. TRS had promised the farm loan waiver before the December 7' 2018 elections," recalled KCR, who also holds the finance portfolio, while presenting the budget for 2019-20 in the legislative assembly.
Under the investment support scheme - 'Rythu Bandhu', the government is currently extending support of Rs 4000 per acre per crop season amounting to Rs 8000 per annum.
"I propose to increase this support to Rs 5,000 per acre per crop. The total support in a year will be Rs 10,000 per acre," KCR had said.
To redeem another election promise, the government proposed to introduce unemployment allowance of Rs 3,016 per month to the eligible and more details of the same are being worked out.
The 'Aasara' pensions, covering the aged, widows, single women, beedi workers, people suffering from filariasis, handloom workers and toddy-tappers, are proposed to be increased from Rs 1,000 per month to Rs 2,016 per month.
"For differently-abled persons, I propose to increase their monthly pension from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,016," the Chief Minister had said.
Other major developments include: commencement of medical colleges in Suryapet and Nalgonda from next year, establishment of 119 residential schools for BCs from the next academic year, construction of a 340 km Regional Ring Road in Hyderabad, creation of 8.58 lakh jobs with secured investments from upcoming 8419 industries, allocations for panchayats and much more.
With respect to the Mission Bhagiratha scheme, the government had promised to complete the same by end of April and ensure water to households across the state. About Rs 25500 crore has been allocated to the irrigation department.
Earlier, the assembly proceedings began with the members paying tributes to the martyrs of Pulwama attack and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao moved a resolution in the House condemning the attack, besides announcing Rs.25 lakh each, to the family of deceased CRPF personnel.
Also read:LS polls: Telangana Congress to contest all 17 seats in state
