A.P. Budget figures do not add up, says Buggana Rajendranath Reddy
The Hindu
Former Finance Minister criticizes Andhra Pradesh Budget for lack of clarity and insufficient funding for welfare schemes.
Terming the Andhra Pradesh Budget for 2025-26 financial year as a jugglery of figures, former Finance Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Buggana Rajendranath Reddy has said the figures do not add up and there is no clarity on how the ‘Super Six’ schemes will be implemented.
Addressing the media at the YSRCP office on Friday (February 28, 2025), Mr. Rajendranath Reddy said that there was no matching of figures between what the Finance and Agriculture Ministers on the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme, which shows the ‘yawning gap’.
“The figures do not add up to the total outlay of ₹3.22 lakh-crore budget. Given the number of beneficiaries, the amounts allocated for the implementation of the ‘Super Six’ schemes are far less than what is required. The Budget does not mention how to fill the gap. As is the practice of the TDP, the number of beneficiaries will be condensed,” he said, adding, “This shows the lack of sincerity on the part of the coalition NDA government.”
Be it Thalliki Vandanam, Deepam, Annadata Sukhibhava or other schemes, the amounts allocated are far less than the actual requirement. “It has been tucked away deep inside and we have to put in much effort to trace it. The Budget booklet is colourful, but content wise, it lacks clarity,” he said.
Mr. Rajendranath Reddy said that the YSRCP’s philosophy had been welfare-oriented and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had full clarity about it as he announced the welfare calendar in adherence to it and transferred the benefits to the beneficiary directly on the scheduled dates, he said.
“However, the coalition government has a dubious philosophy as it has time and again publicised during electioneering that it would cover all sections of the society by various schemes. But after coming to power, it would conveniently forget or dilute the schemes. And teh same is seen in this Budget,” he added.
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