Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy on Friday stated that the government has so far conducted 4,351 `Racha Banda’ programmes till Thursday across the state since its launch on January 24.
Talking to media persons, Mr Ramnarayan Reddy said that the government has allocated Rs 2,500 crore for the prestigious programme, which is aimed to address people’s problems and take government welfare programmes to their doorsteps.
The Finance Minister said the government had already released Rs 1,200 crore for the execution of schemes cleared as part of the Racha Banda programme.
The remaining funds would be released in the phased manner, Mr Ramnarayan Reddy said and added there was no shortage of funds for government welfare programmes. The government would carry out all welfare programmes in letter and spirit, he pointed out.
Mr Ramnarayan Reddy’s words come even as a section of Congress leaders have boycotted the programme while activists of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and other separate statehood protagonists have disrupted Racha Banda programme at 316 places in the state. These activists are demanding introduction of Telangana Bill in the Budget Session of Parliament.
The Finance Minister said the implementation of Revised Pay Commission would put Rs 5,700 crore burden on the state exchequer.
However, he maintained that the government would implement Pay Commission Recommendations in letter and spirit to state government employees.