Budget evokes positive response, but doubts persist

Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh Budget for 2018-19 presented by the finance minster Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Thursday, in which the allocations to almost all sectors have gone up, evoked positive response on the whole. People of various sections felt this is a typical election budget before general elections next year. 

Allocations for both welfare and development programmes have increased significantly. Unemployed youth felt happy that TDP’s election promise of giving unemployment allowance seems to become a reality in the last year of the government’s tenure. However, many expressed doubts over the actual implementation of the schemes. The Hans India spoke to four persons from diversified sections to know their reactions.

The Federation of Farmers Association state president Mangati Gopal Reddy observed that the figures in the budget are so attractive and gives an impression that everything was good. But, actual execution will be most important. “Last year, the government has not released amounts for irrigation and agricultural sectors in tune with the allocations made in the budget. 

If it was determined to take the irrigation sector forward and release all the funds, the increase of 32.95 per cent to irrigation sector may yield some good results. But, the total volume of budget has crossed Rs.1.90 lakh crores as  against Rs.1.50 lakh crore last year. 

Finance minister has not specified how it has grown which makes it doubtful. In line with the Central government, the state government also said that the farmers’ income will be doubled by 2022 it has to be seen how they will take forward this goal,” he observed.

Senior professor and an expert in Public Finance Prof K Santha Kumari opined that the budget before the next general elections was on expected lines. Though in a state of financial turmoil, the state could have managed to record double digit growth of 10.96 per cent during the last three years as against 7.3 per cent growth rate of the country. 

“Allocations for three major sectors, agriculture, irrigation and rural development together constitute more than Rs 50,000 crore which may be expected to give a major boost to these sectors. On welfare front too, the budget allocations made it clear that the government wants to satisfy all sections during the election year. 

As the financial difficulties are haunting the government ever since bifurcation, it has to be seen how far these allocations will be released and implementation of schemes will take place,” she said.

Chittoor District Athletics Association secretary I Chandrasekhar Reddy hailed the decision to increase the allocations for sports and youth affairs by 62.7 per cent from last year. But, last year, only part of allocated funds were released and none of the assurances like building mini stadiums, creating sports academies, etc. had been realised. “At least this year, if the entire amount allocated is released, the state can witness a huge development in sports infrastructure and quality athletes will come up,” he hoped.

Research Scholar in SV University D Lavanya Kumari welcomed the announcement of Rs 1,000 crores for unemployment allowance which was the election promise of TDP government and has been pending all these four years. But the modalities of selecting unemployed youth are yet to be finalised which would be the crucial part. The youth has been eagerly looking for the realisation of this scheme which will be of some solace while preparing for various competitive examinations, she said.