BC, SC, ST and Minority Communities first in Telangana budget 2018-19

Hyderabad: A leap frog jump in the allocations to social services sectors in 2018-19 budget proposals is expected to give a major fillip to welfare of BC, SC, ST and Minority communities in the new financial year which begins on April 1 this year.

State Finance Minister E Rajendar proposed Rs 45,500 crore for social services, which is almost 43 per cent of the total scheme expenditure of Rs 1.04 lakh crore. In 2016-17, the government allocated Rs 35,000 crore for the social services sector. It was increased by Rs 10,000 crore in 2018-19.

The government has allocated Rs 5,919 crore for BC welfare, SC Development (Rs 12,708 crore), ST Development (Rs 8,063 crore), Minority welfare (Rs 2,000 crore) and Women, Child and Disabled department was provided Rs 1,798 crore in the new budget. 

Special funds were also provided for specific schemes mainly overseas scholarships, Kalyana Lakshmi, sheep distribution, schemes for fishermen, barbers and other community development programmes.

Officials said that the increased allocations will meet the financial requirement of all welfare departments. The establishment of residential educational institutions every community and financial assistance schemes for the revival of the traditional occupations in all communities spiked the demand for more funds. For instance, the government earmarked Rs 1,450 crore for Kalyana Lakshmi in the new financial year as against Rs 1,625 crore spent under the scheme for the last three years in the state.