Budget failed to address unemployment problem

Amaravati: Terming the Interim Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal as an election budget, AP Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the Central government had failed to address three important issues namely unemployment, distressed farm sector and problems of the middle-class in the country.

While interacting with reporters at his chamber in the Assembly at Velagapudi on Friday, Yanamala said though the Centre had announced some financial assistance to farmers, it had failed to explain the modalities of the scheme. He lambasted the Centre for not mentioning anything about the AP Reorganisation Act in the Vote-on-Account.

The BJP leaders have been claiming that the Union government has given Rs 3 lakh crore to the state, but it is only false propaganda, the minister said. Yanamala said the middle-class require more help than mere exemption of I-T for those earning up to Rs 5 lakh per annum.

Minister for Social Welfare Nakka Ananda Babu said that the Centre had imposed a restriction under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi by announcing that only those farmers who possessed two hectares or less would be eligible for the annual benefit of Rs 6,000.

Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy pointed out that the Centre failed to provide any relief to families of farmers who had committed suicide.  He further said the Centre failed to announce any loan waiver. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal did not even speak about the Swaminathan Committee suggestions on reforms in agriculture sector, he added.

Transport Minister K Atchannaidu regretted over the failure of the Union Finance Minister to speak anything about implementation of promises in AP Reorganisation Act-2014.