The Telangana Budget 2024 has sparked debate over whether it is more rhetorical than substantial. While the government touts ambitious infrastructure projects and welfare schemes, critics argue that the budget lacks concrete plans and realistic funding. The focus remains on whether the promises will translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
Telangana Budget schemes guarantees
When Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu began presenting the Congress regime’s first full-term budget on Thursday, 25 July, it was clear that the speech would emphasise the promises made before the state elections in November 2023, particularly the six guarantees.
However, the budget seemed more rhetorical than substantial.
Regarding the schemes, the finance minister stated that the government has already spent ₹34,579 crores on various initiatives from December until now.
“We have introduced the Maha Lakshmi Scheme, providing women with free transportation in RTC buses, free electricity up to 200 units, assistance to farmers under Rythu Bharosa, and a rice subsidy, among other benefits. Besides the expenditure on these schemes, we have also made a capital expenditure of ₹19,456 crores. For the first time, on 10 February, after ten years of Telangana’s formation, our government has presented a realistic and planned budget,” said the finance minister in his speech.
He also added that the government has increased the limit under the Aarogya Sri Scheme for medical treatment from ₹5 lakhs to ₹10 lakhs. “It is a mark of our resolve. We are providing gas cylinders under the Maha Lakshmi Scheme for just ₹500. We have also launched the Indiramma Indlu Scheme to help the poor realise their dream of owning a house. We will implement all other schemes we have promised,” said the finance minister.
Furthermore, the schemes from the past ten years of the Telangana government were either not mentioned at all or were brought up only to criticise the previous BRS government.
Maha Lakshmi-Free Bus Transport
The Finance Minister stated in the assembly that, to date, women in the state have made 68.60 crore trips under the Maha Lakshmi-Free Bus Transport scheme.
“As a result, they have collectively saved ₹2351 crores. Women in the state are extremely happy with this scheme. They are enthusiastically visiting tourist places, temples, friends, and relatives using this free travel facility. This scheme is indirectly benefiting the state’s economy as well,” said the minister.
He added that the amount incurred by RTC for providing free travel under this scheme is being reimbursed by the state government on a monthly basis.
LPG Cylinder at ₹500
The government acknowledged that the frequent rise in LPG cylinder prices causes hardship for poor and middle-class families, becoming a financial burden for them to absorb the increased costs.
“To address this, the government started the scheme for providing LPG cylinders at ₹500. To date, 39,57,637 families have availed themselves of this scheme, and the government has spent ₹200 crores so far,” said the finance minister.
The government has proposed ₹723 crores for the LPG Cylinder at ₹500 Scheme.
Gruha Jyothi Scheme
The government issued the necessary guidelines and orders for the implementation of the Gruha Jyothi Scheme in February 2024, bringing it into force on 1 March. Households using less than 200 units of electricity will benefit under this scheme. Applications received during Praja Palana and through Praja Seva Kendras have been examined, and beneficiaries have been identified. Discoms issue zero bills to the beneficiaries under this scheme, and the state government reimburses the actual charges incurred by the Discoms in lieu of zero bills.
The government has stated that the issuance of zero bills began on 1 March and that as of 15 July, 45,81,676 zero bills have been issued, providing light to poor families.
Under the Gruha Jyothi Scheme, the government has paid ₹583.05 crores to Discoms up to June 2024. The government has proposed ₹2,418 crores for the Gruha Jyothi Scheme.
Farm Loan Waiver
In his budget speech, Bhatti Vikarmarka emphasised that waiving farm loans up to ₹2.00 lakhs was a key assurance to the people. “This assurance was given by our beloved leader Rahul Gandhi as part of the Warangal declaration. It was a very bold move. We were fully aware of the financial implications of this scheme. At the same time, our resolve was rock solid,” he said.
He asserted that, unlike the previous government, they are committed to implementing the farm loan waiver up to ₹2 lakhs in one stroke. “Opposition parties have been expressing doubts and casting aspersions on us since we announced our intention to implement the farm loan waiver. They tried to mislead the people and are still doing so,” said Vikarmarka.
He added that the government has made a momentous decision to waive farm loans taken from 12 December 2018 to 9 December, 2023.
“In spite of the financial distress in the state, we are systematically garnering the necessary funds of ₹31,000 crores needed for this scheme. On 18 July, we transferred ₹6,035 crores at a time into the accounts of 11.34 lakh farmers, towards Runa Mafi. The rest of the loans up to ₹2 lakhs will also be waived soon,” said the finance minister.
Rythu Bharosa
The finance minister stated that the government has replaced the Rythu Bandhu Scheme with Rythu Bharosa to benefit real farmers. The amount under this scheme has been increased to ₹15,000 per annum. Guidelines for implementation are being framed.
“For this purpose, we have constituted a cabinet subcommittee. The committee has toured various districts and consulted farmers, experts, and intellectuals. All the views expressed at these forums will be placed before this August House to further discuss and elicit the opinions of the members. Our approach is an example of how government policies should be framed in a transparent and consultative manner,” said the minister.
Farm Labourers Welfare
The government acknowledged that the landless poor usually work as agricultural labourers and lack secure employment, leading distressed lives. They have been neglected in the past 10 years.
“With the noble intention of improving living and economic standards of agricultural labourers, we propose to launch a new scheme this year, providing financial assistance of ₹12,000 per annum to them,” said the finance minister.
Farm Insurance
Droughts and floods are a bane to farmers, as a single stroke of bad weather can destroy their hard work and endanger their crops, leading to economic devastation.
“It is the government’s responsibility to protect farmers from various vagaries. The previous government failed to protect farmers by not releasing the premium necessary for crop insurance. We have resolved to extend farm insurance to farmers by joining the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) this year. The premium that is to be paid by the farmer will be covered by the state government. Crops will be insured without the farmer spending a single penny,” said the finance minister.
Bonus for Paddy
Paddy cultivation is extensive in Telangana, but farmers often suffer due to the lack of remunerative prices for their products.
“The government has decided to encourage the cultivation of ‘Sanna Rice.’ We have identified 33 varieties of such rice and have announced a bonus of ₹500 per quintal for these varieties. With this incentive, farmers will be encouraged to take up Sanna Rice cultivation due to the good assured price from the government,” said the minister.
Indiramma Indlu
The minister stated that, as promised in their election manifesto, the government has launched the Indiramma Housing Scheme to help the downtrodden realize their dream of owning a house.
Under the scheme, eligible people will be provided financial assistance of ₹5 lakhs for the construction of a house, with people belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes communities receiving ₹6 lakhs. The plan is to construct a total of 4.5 lakh houses, with at least 3500 houses in each constituency. These houses will be 400 sq. ft. with RCC roofing, a kitchen, and a toilet.
“Two-bedroom houses (by the previous government) that are already completed will be allotted to the beneficiaries at the earliest. Incomplete houses will be completed, and amenities will be provided before being distributed to the needy. The housing scheme launched by our government will provide succor and security to many downtrodden families,” he said.
Indira Mahila Shakthi Scheme
The minister stated that, with the aim of transforming 63 lakh women into successful businesswomen, the government has designed the Indira Mahila Shakthi Programme in collaboration with Sthree Nidhi and banks.
“We plan to secure ₹1 lakh crores for this scheme,” he said.
The government aims to impart skill training in different fields and also train women in branding and marketing. They propose to establish common processing centers for entrepreneurs and a small-scale industrial park in every assembly constituency. Each year, the project aims to help 5000 rural societies/regional societies, with plans to extend it to 25,000 societies.
“As part of the Mahila Shakthi Programme, we introduced a loan insurance scheme this March. If any member of the society dies, a maximum of ₹2 lakhs loan in her name would be waived off. For this loan insurance program, we have already released ₹50.41 crores to Sthree Nidhi,” the minister said.
Self Help Groups
The finance minister stated that the government has resolved to allot at least ₹20,000 crores each year for five years toward providing interest-free loans. These funds will aid in the establishment of micro and small industrial parks, enabling women entrepreneurs to become successful businesswomen.
Indira Life Insurance Scheme
Under this scheme, the government will provide accidental life insurance of ₹10 lakhs to each member of the 63.86 lakh women in the Self Help Groups (SHGs). The government has already ordered that the job of stitching school uniforms be entrusted to the SHG members. During the inauguration of the Mahila Shakthi Programme, the Chief Minister received a request from the SHGs to enhance the stitching charges for school uniforms from ₹50 to ₹75. Their request has been accepted, benefiting 29,680 members by about ₹50 crores.
“To market the products manufactured by the members of the SHGs, we have decided to establish a Mahila Bazar at Madhapur. We have already allotted 3.2 acres of land, including 106 shops, to the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) for establishing this bazar,” he said.
The minister also noted that financial independence of women enables them to achieve equality in society. “The above programs, which we have implemented and are going to implement, are all intended to strengthen women financially. In brief, the aim of our government is to transform one crore women into crorepathis,” said the minister. #hydkhabar
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