Hyderabad: The state government is set to ramp up its spending on welfare schemes and developmental programmes in the run-up to the state Assembly elections, with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao directing finance officials to make allocations for the same on priority for the September-November period.
In a review, Rao ascertained that just 25 per cent of the Budgetary allocations for the 2023-24 fiscal was spent in the first quarter, officials said. Following this, Rao set a target to achieve 75 per cent spending in the three months, they said.
With the Assembly elections due in the state by the year-end, the BRS is expecting the Election Commission of India to release the poll schedule in October and polling in the first week of December, unless the Centre implements a ‘One Nation-One Election’ plan to defer state elections and club it with the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
Officials said that welfare schemes of Aasara pensions, Rythu Bandhu, Aarogyasri, fee reimbursement, scholarships, free power for agriculture, Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak benefit lakhs of people.
The state government also requires funds for the implementation of the new BC Bandhu and Minority Bandhu schemes, under which Rs 1 lakh financial assistance is being extended to 300 beneficiaries in each of the 119 Assembly constituencies.
Of the total 2023-24 Budget outlay of Rs 2,90,396 crore, the state government has proposed revenue expenditure, including welfare schemes, of Rs 2,11,685 crore and capital expenditure of Rs 37,525 crore.
Excluding salaries and pensions for staff, the government proposed to spend Rs 2,49,210 crore on welfare schemes and subsidies, as well as capital expenditure, which comprises the creation of assets like infrastructure facilities.
The state government, from April to July, spent Rs 63,607 crore, amounting to 25.52 per cent of the target, from April to July. The data for August is yet to be compiled, sources said.
Of this, the government spent Rs 13,304 crore (35.45 per cent) of allocated Rs 37,525 crore on capital expenses, while Rs 50,303 crore of Rs 2,11,685 crore for revenue expenditure was spent.
Welfare schemes and developmental programmes are facing a fund crunch, leading to a huge pendency in the delivery of benefits and execution of development projects like the laying of roads and drainage systems. The heavy rains and floods in July severely damaged road networks in several districts, which necessitated further expenses.
