Two quick fixes to help make Raithu Bandhu better focussed by targeting the right beneficiaries.
Firstly, those land holdings that are more than 10 acres could be taken off the list of beneficiaries, thereby saving 14% of the project cost or roughly Rs. 2,000 crores per annum.
Secondly, by making sure Raithu Bandhu scheme is only applicable for the land if the farmer cultivates the land, 30% of the project cost or roughly Rs. 4,500 crores per annum can be saved.
26 MLAs defected from opposition parties to the ruling TRS party in Telangana during 2014-2018 with impunity. Moreover, 12 Congress MLAs defected to TRS in the recent Legislative Assembly flouting Anti-Defection Law.
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.
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%.
