Siddipet Steel (Barthan) Bank gets appreciation in Economic Survey 2023-24
Hyderabad: The Steel Bank of Siddipet, started in 2020, has been hailed in the Economic Survey as a role model that contributed to the reduction of plastic waste at functions. It was implemented by other states as 'barthan banks,' the survey noted.
The Steel Bank of Siddipet – a series of banks renting out steel cutlery – was inaugurated by Siddipet MLA and then minister, T. Harish Rao in July 2020, and the facilities were set up by women self-help groups supported by Bala Vikasa, an NGO, and the Siddipet municipality.
The steel bank has utensils that can be rented for a fee by anyone and must be returned after cleaning. This led to a fall in the use of plastic cutlery. The Economic Survey said the bank had reduced 6-8 kg of plastic waste per event and 28 quintals per month.
Reacting to this, BRS leader T. Harish Rao said the steel bank finding a mention in the Economic Survey was a remarkable achievement.
The Economic Survey also hailed the state government's support for multi-national companies (MNCs) for setting up global capability centres (GCCs). It said strategic interventions under various initiatives like ‘Digital India’ and policies for easing doing business had streamlined online approvals and licensing processes for GCCs.
Streamlined tax regulations and compliance procedures for foreign companies for setting up GCCs, flexible labour laws, and single window clearance systems had eased the business process. Improved digital infrastructure (high-speed internet, data centres) has been a boon for GCC operations.
It noted that the Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments had launched research and development (R&D) policies to expand the GCC landscape in sectors such as auto and electric vehicles, electronics, pharma and life sciences.
The survey expressed concern over increasing obesity in India and also in Telangana. At 30.1 per cent and 32.3 per cent, respectively, the proportion of women and men who were overweight in Telangana had increased from 28.6 per cent and 24.2 per cent respectively.
The survey also highlighted the success of e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) platform in Telangana. It said a significant proportion of farmers (82 per cent, 79 per cent, 64 per cent, and 89 per cent) in states like Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Telangana respectively, observed better pricing and reduced transaction costs.
The survey hailed the growth of cement industry in Telangana and also talked about the establishment of PM MITRA parks.
