Vijayawada: The annual Budget for Andhra Pradesh was presented in the state assembly on Monday by Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav. The Rs.2.94 lakh crore budget has projected a revenue deficit of Rs.34,743 crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs.68,742 crore. The outlay for school education ran up to Rs.29,909 crore.
Minister Keshav began his speech by listing the failures of the previous government, especially in sectors like irrigation and industrial growth. Their actions like raising loans in blatant violation of the siscal responsibility norms and budget management (FRBM) guidelines “pushed the state’s finances to the brink of disaster.”
He referred to the reports of the Comptroller & Auditor General in these respects.
Keshav said the budget of Rs.2,94,427.25 crore for FY25 has a revenue expenditure estimated at Rs.2,35,916.99 crore and capital expenditure at Rs.32,712.84 crore. The estimated revenue deficit is around Rs.34,743.38 crore (2.12 per cent of the GSDP) and the fiscal deficit around Rs.68,742.65 crore (4.19 per cent of the GSDP) for the present financial year.
The finance minister announced an allotment of Rs.11,855 crore for agriculture and allied sectors, Rs.18,497 crore for SC welfare, Rs.7,555 crore for ST welfare, Rs.39,007cr for BC welfare, Rs.4,376cr for minority welfare, Rs.4,285cr for women and child welfare, Rs.1,215cr for skill development, Rs.29,909cr for school education, Rs.2,326 cr for higher education, `18,421cr for health care, Rs.16,739cr for panchayat raj,Rs.11,490cr for municipal & urban development, 4,012cr for housing, and Rs.16,705 crore for water resources & irrigation.
For industries & commerce, the allotment is Rs.3,127cr while for energy (electricity) Rs.8,207cr, for roadways & buildings Rs.9,554 cr, for youth, sports & tourism Rs.322cr, for police department Rs.8,495cr and for forest & environment Rs.687 crore.
The revenue expenditure is proposed at Rs.2,35,916.99 crore, capital expenditure at Rs.32712.84 crore and the total budget estimate at Rs.2,94,427.25 crore, the minister said.
He said, “As part of the Super Six promises, our government has announced support to eligible farmers through the Annadatha Sukhibhava - PM KISAN scheme. Our government is also implementing schemes like Polam Pilusthondi, Vaddi Leni Runalu, distribution of Soil Health Cards, supply of farm implements, setting up of soil testing labs, and the Polambadi scheme for comprehensive support to farmers.”
The crop insurance benefits are being modified from Rabi 2024-25, by adopting a voluntary enrolment model, giving farmers the freedom and flexibility to participate
in the scheme based on their individual needs.
Keshav stated, “To fulfil the Super Six promises, our government has launched the Deepam 2 scheme to provide 3 LPG cylinders a year free of cost to each beneficiary family. An amount of `895 crore has been released for the 1st LPG cylinder in 2024-25.”
More than five lakh beneficiaries have received the subsidy amount.
Another promise will be implemented in due course vis-a-vis free travel for women in public transport buses. “This initiative is aimed at increasing the participation of women in the workforce.”
