A quick study of the budgets and audit reports of Telangana makes it clear that the poll promises made by TRS government for welfare of the people - Fees reimbursement for students, Martyrs in Telangana movement, SC, ST, BC and Minorities welfare - have been tall claims that remain largely unfulfilled. The alacrity with which funds are allocated during the budgets when wide publicity is given to government schemes is absent when the actual implementation happens. Not only is the allocation of funds for the welfare much lower than the election promises made by TRS, but also utilization of funds allocated is dismal.
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Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project with an estimated investment potential of Rs. 2.19 lakh Crores and employment opportunity for nearly 68 lakh people in Hyderabad remains a non-starter because of deficient planning by TRS government in Telangana. Moreover, lack of initiative by TRS government to take up this mammoth project leaves behind a trail of unanswered questions.
The recently constituted 15th Finance Commission of India reflects the growing chasm between North India and South India. The criticism surrounding the latest finance commission stems from the commission's terms of reference set by the central government. The main contention of the southern states is the circular issued to the commission to take the population figures from recent 2011 census instead of 1971 census for devolution of tax revenues and grants-in-aid from central government to individual state governments.
As per Telangana's latest Budget for the financial year 2018-19, out of the total state taxes of Rs. 73,752 Crores, the revenues from liquor sale is projected to be Rs. 21,600 Crores. Or, out of every ten rupees Telangana mops up, three rupees come from excise and VAT collected on liquor sale. During the TRS regime, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of revenues collected from liquor sale is 26%.