Raw deal for weaker sections in budget

Hyderabad,
March 19, 2013:  Stating that the weaker sections got a raw deal in the state
budget, YSR Congress has demanded that amendments should be carried out in the
budget to increase the allocations to BCs and other weaker sections.

“The weaker sections were
completely ignored in the budget as the allocation for the Backward Classes and
other sections are very meager and not aimed at their welfare,” party
spokesperson and BC Cell Convener Gattu Ramachandra Rao told reporters here on
Tuesday.

Though the budget allocations
have increased drastically it was not reflected in the allotments to welfare
schemes for the weaker sections, he said. The chief minister himself described it
as an ‘election budget’, however in reality it offers no solace to any section
of the society leave alone the weaker sections, said Gattu.

How the Rs 26,000 deficit will
be taken care of was not mentioned by the finance minister. Already the
consumer is burdened by over 32,000 crores through fuel surcharge adjustment
and proposals are being discussed to impose further hike in the power charges.

The government has neglected
the welfare of SC, ST, BC and women in the budget as it has allocated meager
funds to healthcare, education, fees reimbursement and other schemes that help
the BCs.

The fees reimbursement is
coming with many riders and the government has thrown crumbs to artisans who
from more than 50 per cent of the weaker sections, he said. 

The government has made a
mockery of the budget by reducing the presentation of budget to a mere
formality with the hike being effecting in the pre and post budget days, he
said.

There is no assurance to the
small and medium farmers about power supply as agriculture and its allied
industries are being badly hurt due to power cuts and industries are getting
closed rendering many jobless, he said.

Though YSR Congress has been
demanding a market stabilization fund of Rs 3,000 crores, the government has
announced a paltry Rs 100 crores that would be hardly of any use, he said.

The spirit of Aarogyasri was
defeated by diluting the scheme and taking it away from the weaker sections.
Toddy tappers and tenant farmers were totally ignored, he said.

“Unless amendments are carried
out to increase the allocations to BCs and other weaker sections, there would
not be social justice, he said.