Chicago – February 10, 2024
The Congress government in Telangana presented its inaugural budget on Saturday, a vote on account, and allotted Rs 53,196 crore to implement its six poll ‘guarantees,’ with an overall outlay of Rs 2,75,891 crore.
The budget was presented in the Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who stated that it is intended to fulfil the Congress government’s goal to create “Indiramma Rajyam” (former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s welfare governance) in Telangana.
Vikramarka claimed that the former BRS government had bankrupted the state and that the burden of unforeseen debts was challenging. “Yet, we will stand by the people with planned developmental goals,” he said.
Congress’s six campaign ‘guarantees’ include Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women and Rs 500 for cooking gas cylinders for eligible households.
Soon after taking office in December 2023, the Congress government implemented fare-free riding for women on state-run RTC buses, one of the six guarantees.
Vikramarka, who holds the finance position, stated that the Congress government intends to reduce excessive expenditure in day-to-day government operations and spending on unnecessary infrastructure assets.
Other promises included Rs 15,000 per acre for farmers and tenant farmers, 200 units of free electricity for all homes, a house site, Rs five lakh for persons who do not own a house, Rs five lakh for students, and a monthly social security stipend of Rs 4,000.
