T'gana goes for vote on account budget with Rs 2.75 lakh cr expenditure, Rs 53,196 cr proposed for 6 guarantees

Telangana deputy chief minister and state finance minister, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday tabled vote on account budget for 2024-25 with a total expenditure of Rs 2,75,891 cr. Of the total budget proposals revenue expenditure has been pegged at Rs 2, 01,178cr and capital expenditure as Rs 29,669cr.

Amid high hopes on the Congress government’s first budget it presented a vote on account budget instead of a regular one.

Telangana had an opportunity to present a full budget as the polls for the assembly were held last year. But the Congress government opted for interim-vote on account budget.

The previous K Chandrashekar Rao government too just before the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 went for a vote on account budget instead of a full budget.

Government had linked the presenting vote on account budget to the Centre’s interim budget that was presented on Feb 1.

Telangana’s full budget will be introduced after the Centre’s regular budget is presented.

“ Presenting our government’s first budget as a vote on account budget is a little disheartening for us. But the Central Government has introduced a vote on account budget on February 1, 2024. Our government has a clear vision on how to pool up resources for our plans and schemes. As part of that vision we have the clarity that we need to tap the maximum funds from the central government under its various schemes. Only if a full scale budget is presented by the Government of India, we will be able to have a reasonable estimate of the funds that might be transferred to us. Hence, we have decided to introduce a full budget after the central government introduces its regular budget,” said Vikramarka while presenting the budget in the assembly on Friday.

It is learnt that the Revanth Reddy government is looking forward to favourable allocations for the state in the full union budget that will be presented in July after the Lok Sabha polls.

The vote on the account budget that was presented by the Centre a few days ago met a raw deal to Telangana. With no considerate allocations in the union budget Telangana government opted for a vote on account budget.

In the budget, Telangana allocated a whopping Rs 53,196cr for its flagship - Abhaya Hastham - six guarantees programme.

Riding high on the promise of Abhaya Hastham-Six guarantees, Congress last December trounced BRS and formed the government. The budget also proposed Rs 19,746 cr for agriculture and Rs 28,024 cr for Irrigation. For SC welfare Rs 21389cr was allocated. Rs 19746cr for Education, Rs 11500cr for Medical & Health and Rs 8000cr for BC welfare were allocated. For Musi river development Telangana government allocated around Rs 1000cr.

While presenting the budget, Vikramarka alleged that the earlier government made the state bankrupt and the burden of unplanned loans posed a major challenge to his government.

“Yet we will stand by the people with planned developmental goals. Our Government is planning to cut down wasteful expenditure in day to day government operations and also by curbing expenditure on unwarranted infrastructural assets. Our budget focuses on people’s overall development, progress and their happiness,” he said.

He also observed that the six guarantees invest resources both by transfer of money and agrarian and other forms of development with a rational approach to every family that deserves the welfare package.