Welfare will be given top priority: Yanamala

Amaravati: The State government will give top priority for welfare schemes in Budget-2018-19. Finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Friday gave suggestions to officials in this regard during a review meeting here on Friday. Yanamala also said agriculture, rural development, education, welfare of youth and women should also be given top priority in the budget.

Though the growth rate in agriculture sector was satisfactory, he said it need to be improved in industrial and service sectors which will help to improve state revenues.He said non-tax revenue was not at the expected level. “Income from forest department decreased and revenue need to be increased from mines and minerals department. Stamps and registrations, transport and revenue department has achieved the revenue targets,” he said.

Officials told the finance minister that the Centre did not give funds for bridging the revenue deficit at expected level and only Rs 2,000 crore was released for Polavaram project instead of the actual amount of Rs 7,000 crore.