AP Budget, a web of illusions

Congratulations to Mr Yanamala Ramakrishnudu for having presented AP Budget 11th time in his lifetime. But the budget for the 2019 - 2020 fiscal is more of illusions and day-dreaming. On the floor of the house, the Finance minister made contradictory projections of the Union government abdicating its responsibility to support the newly formed state and yet it is on the way to become one of the three emerging economies in the country.

In a Rs 226173 crore budget as boasted by the FM, it was a raw deal for the peasantry, youth and the working class. Many examples can be cited. In its much publicised manifesto which conspicuously not available on its website now, TDP made an unfulfilled promise to regularise contract and outsourcing workers but takes credit in the budget speech for providing maternity leave to them. The employment allowance is too late and too little and being paid to mere 4.3 lakh youth whereas the total unemployed youth are a staggering 20 lakhs.

In a state where 32 per cent of GSDP is contributed by agriculture, farmers' suicides are continuing unabated as the government lacks a multi-pronged strategy to address the agricultural distress and only partially implementing loan waiver. Discontinuing fees reimbursement had a serious impact on students willing to pursue professional courses, the fact that found no mention in the budget.

The connivance of the TDP government with the BJP at the Centre for 4.5 years did cost heavily for the state. The fiscal 2019-2020 AP budget is merely an exercise by the state government to appropriate in its favour whatever little progress is made and blaming the Centre for all the unfinished promises that are very crucial for a new state at its historic cross roads.

- A Raghunatha Reddy, Kadapa