Telangana Budget 2023: Presenting Rs 2.90 lakh crore outlay, Finance Minister Harish Rao calls out ‘hurdles created by Centre’

In a two-hour speech, Rao listed how Telangana has set itself as a role model for the country and ushered in a golden era in the last eight-and-a-half years. The finance minister said the state has not compromised on its development and welfare schemes despite restrictions and discrimination by the Centre.

“Both in welfare and development, Telangana is a role model for the entire country. We can rightfully claim that whatever is being implemented in Telangana is being followed by the entire country. ‘Telangana Model’, which combines humanitarian approach, constructive thinking, futuristic planning and transparent administration, is getting accolades, both nationally and internationally,” he said.

The state cabinet Sunday approved the annual financial statement for the upcoming year. With the Assembly elections in Telangana scheduled later in the year, this was also the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government’s last budget in its ongoing tenure.

Offered Prayers at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Vaari Temple Jubilee Hills Ahead Of Presenting #TelanganaBudget2023 pic.twitter.com/8RverQTMbu

— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) February 6, 2023

Speaking about the “hurdles created by the Centre” to the development of Telangana, Rao recalled how the Centre unilaterally imposed a reduction of Rs 15,033 crore in the total borrowings of Rs 53,970 crore that was approved in the 2022-23 state budget.

“This decision of the Centre was totally unjustified and uncalled for. These kinds of cuts are against the spirit of federalism and have eroded the rights of the states,” he said.

Rao also lamented that the Centre was yet to release to Telangana a grant of Rs 19,205 crore for Mission Bhagiratha and Rs 5,000 crore for Mission Kakatiya, recommended by NITI Aayog.

In a two-hour speech, Rao listed how Telangana has set itself as a role model for the country and ushered in a golden era in the last eight-and-a-half years. (Express Photo)

The finance minister underlined how certain political parties ridiculed welfare programmes as ‘revdi’ or freebies and said such programmes should be looked at from a humanitarian angle and not from the point of view of loss or gain.

Budgetary allocations

Rao proposed an allocation of Rs 36,750 crore towards the Special Development Fund for Scheduled Castes. The government also proposed Rs 15,233 crore towards Special Development Fund for Scheduled Tribes.

The government also proposed Rs 2,200 crore for the welfare of minorities and Rs 6,229 crore for the welfare of backward communities. Towards the government’s flagship schemes Kalyana Lakshmi and Shadi Mubarak, it proposed to spend Rs 3,210 crore. An amount of Rs 12,000 crore is proposed towards payment of pensions.

For farmers’ debt waiver, Rs 6,385.20 crore has been set aside, while Rs 1,589.44 has been allocated for insurance to farmers. From the Rs 7,890 crores set aside for the construction of double bedroom houses, 2,000 poor beneficiaries in each of the 119 constituencies in the state would receive houses.

The finance minister underlined how certain political parties ridiculed welfare programmes as ‘revdi’ or freebies and said such programmes should be looked at from a humanitarian angle and not from the point of view of loss or gain. (Express Photo)

Rao also said the state is determined to go ahead with the construction of irrigation projects despite hurdles and a lack of assistance from the Centre. He proposed an outlay of Rs 31,426 crore for the Panchayati Raj department; Rs 26,885 crore for the irrigation sector; Rs 26,831 crore for the agriculture and cooperation department; and Rs 19,093 crore for the education sector, which includes Rs 3,001 crore for the higher education department.

Further, a sum of Rs 12,727 crore is proposed to be spent on the power sector. For the medical and health sector, Rao proposed Rs 12,161 crore. Rs 11,372 crore is proposed for the department of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, whereas a sum of Rs 9,599 crore is proposed for the Home department. Rs 2,131 crore is proposed to be allocated to the Women and Child Development department.

Rao proposed an allocation of Rs 3,117 crore to the Civil Supplies department. He also proposed Rs 2,500 crore for the repair and maintenance of roads by the Roads and Buildings department and another Rs 1,471 crore to the Forest department.

The state proposed to spend Rs 1,000 crore towards promoting oil palm cultivation and, for the first time, to spend Rs 500 crore towards providing basic amenities such as the modernisation of hostels and construction of new university buildings across the state.

The government allocated Rs 1,500 crore to Hyderabad Metro Rail, besides Rs 500 crore towards connectivity to the old city and another Rs 500 crore for the proposed Airport Metro.

Rao said promises made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, still needed to be fulfilled. He said to complete five irrigation projects within the shortest time, the Telangana government resorted to off-budget borrowings well within the limits of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act.

Concluding his budget speech, Rao said Telangana would forge ahead and play an important role in nation-building in the years to come. “Let us continue to work together without any rest for the upliftment of Dalits, tribals, minorities, backward and weaker sections and poor people among the upper castes,” he added.

Discussions on the budget will begin on February 8 in the session that will conclude on February 12.

The budget size was Rs 2.56 lakh crore in 2022-23, Rs 2.30 lakh crore in 2021-22 and Rs 1.82 lakh crore in 2020-21.