Andhra Pradesh Budget: Rs 1.11 Lakh Crore Outlay

Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Wednesday presented a Rs 1,11,824-crore budget for the State of Andhra Pradesh for the financial year 2014-15.

Presenting the first ever budget of Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation, Yanamala said that the Non-Plan Expenditure was estimated at Rs 85,151 crores, and Plan Expenditure at Rs 26,673 crores.

"The estimated revenue deficit is Rs 6,064 crores, and the Fiscal Deficit is estimated at Rs 12,064 crores. The fiscal deficit works out to 2.3% of the GSDP while the revenue deficit works out to 1.16%. These estimates include the receipts and expenditure of two months relating to the undivided State of Andhra Pradesh and the anticipated additional assistance of Rs 14,500 crores from the Government of India in the context of the State reorganisation," he said.

The Finance Minister expressed confidence that the Budget for 2014-15 would initiate the process of building the new State on sound lines and pave the way for taking rapid strides in the years to come.

"Our priority is inclusive growth in which equitable opportunities are advanced to all citizens and benefits accrue to all sections of the society, particularly the vulnerable ones," he said.

Yanamala, who presented the budget again after 10 years, alleged that the interregnum period was characterised largely by lack of development vision and strategic direction, and by rampant corruption and failure of governance. After successive agitations and strikes in the past few years, the situation was compounded by the manner in which the State was bifurcated, he said.

"This unfortunate scenario which the present government has inherited leaves me in an unenviable position of dealing with the sudden new complexities and problems the State is burdened with. We have to now restart the process of building the economy," he said.

Yanamala said that the government would give top priority to the fulfillment of five major promises made during the elections. They were debt relief to farmers and DWCRA women, raising the pension amounts, provision of 20 litres of mineral water for Rs 2 through the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the private sector under the NTR Sujala Pathakam, closing down of belt shops in villages, and raising of the retirement age of government employees from 58 to 60.

"These announcements, as part of a holistic development strategy, are being fulfilled," he said. "We are also committed to provide post-matric scholarships and fee reimbursements to deserving students. A provision has been made in the budget for schemes for the welfare of Kapus and Brahmins. A Commission is being constituted to study the inclusion of Kapus into the BC category without affecting the interests of the BCs."

The government has made provisions of:

Rs 2,657 crores for the Social Welfare;
Rs 1,150 crores for Tribal Welfare;
Rs 3,130 crores for BC welfare;
Rs 371 crores for Minorities Welfare;
Rs 1,049 crores for Women & Child Welfare;
Rs 65 crores for the Welfare of Disabled & Senior Citizens;
Rs 126 crores for Youth Services;
Rs 113 crores for Tourism;
Rs 808 crores for Housing;
Rs 2,318 crores for Civil Supplies;
Rs 6,094 crores for Rural Development;
Rs 4,260 crores for Panchayat Raj;
Rs 1152 crores for Rural Water Supply;
Rs 3,134 crores for Urban Development;
Rs 276 crores for Labour and Employment;
Rs 4,388 crores for Health, Medical and Family Welfare;
Rs 12,595 crores for School Education;
Rs 812 crores for Intermediate Education;
Rs 2,275 crores for Higher Education;
Rs 418 crores for Environment and Forests;
Rs 73 crores for Infrastructure & Investment;
Rs 2,612 crores for Roads & Buildings;
Rs 7,164 crores for Energy;
Rs 8,465 crores for Irrigation;
Rs 615 crores for Industries and Commerce;
Rs 111 crores for IT&C;
Rs 403 crores for Disaster Management;
Rs 3,739 crores for Law and Order; and
Rs 1,177 crores for the Revenue Department

Yanamala said that the government had decided to re-draft the Vision 2020 document to frame a vision that would set the standards for a new development paradigm in sync with the changed circumstances to place the State among the top 3 performing states in the country by 2020, marking India @75.

"The principal endeavour of the government will therefore be to make Andhra Pradesh 'Swarandhra Pradesh', a developed State when measured in terms of citizen life satisfaction and Happiness Index, by 2029, coinciding with the next three Finance Commissions," he said. (INN)