Budget focuses on people's welfare: MIM
Budget focuses on people's welfare: MIM
MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said that the Budget 2017-18, presented by Finance Minister Eatala Rajender, focuses on the welfare of the people and the development of the State.
Akbaruddin Owaisi said that the presentation of budget coincided with the completion of 33 months of the TRS Government in the new State. The Finance Minister has recalled the achievements of the government and the problems faced in the last financial years, he said.
"The demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by the BJP Government in November 2016 had adversely impacted the poorer sections as well as the State governments. The Finance Minister has asserted that the State has achieved impressive growth despite the adverse impact of demonetisation on the state finances. The Finance Minister has projected ambitious figures for state’s own revenues, central transfers, and open market and central loans for the ensuing financial year. Similarly, the finance minister has made higher projections of outlays for all the items of expenditure, particularly for the welfare of SCs, STs, BCs, women and development of various sectors," he said.
However, Akbaruddin Owaisi said that there has been only a marginal increase of 4% in the allocations for Minorities Welfare from Rs 1,204 crores to Rs 1,249 crores. This is despite the fact that the government has decided to open 130 more minorities residential schools, in addition to the existing 71 schools, in the ensuing year. "We welcome the government’s decision to increase the assistance under Shaadi Mubarak and Kalyani Lakshmi from Rs 51,000 to Rs 75,116," he said.
The MIM leader also welcomed allocation of Rs 200 crores to Osmania University for organising its centenary celebrations and construction of centenary block. The Government has also decided to provide assistance of Rs 1,000 crores to the GHMC and take up a scheme for development of Musi River Front with an outlay of Rs 350 crores, he said.
Akbaruddin Owaisi, however, expressed concern over the mounting public debt of the State, which is slated to soar from Rs 83,846 crores at the end of 2014-15 to Rs 1,40,523 crores by March 31st, 2018.