Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has instructed the finance department officials to focus on achieving growth in the upcoming budget. Speaking at a review meeting held at his residence in Undavalli on Wednesday on the budget formulation, he said that welfare and development should be given equal priority.
He said that the budget should be formulated in line with the target of achieving 16 percent growth in the 2025-26 financial year. He deplored that the economy has been weakened due to the policies adopted by the previous government and that a new budget should be prepared to put it in the right direction.
Moreover, it is learnt that Chandrababu was of the opinion that the expenditure to be made and being made on welfare should be higher than the expenditure made by the previous government and hence more funds should be allocated for that purpose. He said that the burden has increased to some extent because his government is paying a higher amount than the pensions given in the past, and that too with arrears.
Officials brought to his attention on this occasion that currently up to Rs 2,700 crore has to be spent on pensions per month. He suggested that the remaining three promises in the Super Six should be implemented after April, and that funds should be allocated in the budget for that too.
The Chief Minister said that clear estimates should be prepared for things like salutation to mothers, free bus travel, and the welfare of the breadwinners and focus on the allocation of funds. He directed that there should also be clarity on the funds required for the Anna Canteens and Deepam Phase II schemes.
Chandrababu suggested that while the Center has already announced some funds for schemes like capital construction and Polavaram, the state share of funds should also be provided for them. In the context of the Central Economic Commission and NITI Aayog already requesting additional financial assistance, it was suggested that those funds should also be shown in the budget.
Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Muddada Ravichandra, Principal Secretary to the Finance Department Piyush Kumar and other officials participated in the meeting.