AP budget 2022: Welfare high on state's agenda, 44.23% of budget goes to social schemes

The revenue expenditure was pegged at Rs. 2,08,261 crore and capital expenditure at Rs. 47,996 crore. The estimated revenue deficit is around Rs. 17,036 crore and the fiscal deficit around Rs. 48,724 crore. The finance minister said the fiscal deficit would be around 3.64% of the GDSP (Gross State Domestic Product), whereas the revenue deficit works out to be about 1.27% of the GDSP.

Top priority was given to welfare (Rs. 45,955 crore), education (Rs. 30,077 crore), health (Rs. 15,384.26 crore), urban development (Rs. 8,796 crore), and social security (Rs. 4,331.85 crore).

For women and children's welfare, the state has allocated Rs. 4,322.86 crore, while Rs. 18,518 crore has been earmarked for SC sub-plan, Rs. 6,145 crore for ST sub-plan, Rs. 29,143 crore for BC sub-plan, Rs. 3,661 crore for welfare of minorities, and Rs. 3,537 crore for Kapu welfare.

School education was allocated Rs. 27,706.66 crore which was 12.52% higher than the previous year. Amma Vodi was allocated Rs. 6,500 crore while Rs. 3,500 crore was allocated for Mana Badi Nadu Nedu. Pedalandariki Illu housing scheme will get Rs. 4,791.69 crore. So far, Rs. 1,146.7 crore has been released to beneficiaries under the scheme, including the cost of the material.

"In the last three years, we have set in motion changes through Navaratnalu and welfare schemes mentioned in the party manifesto, working for social inclusion to make our state a leader in all the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)," the finance minister said. The government has proposed creating Rs 350 crore Special Development Package Fund, placing Rs 2 crore at the disposal of each MLA. "The fund is for implementing socio-economic development programmes at the constituency level to maximise welfare in line with the local needs and preferences", said the finance minister.

2022-23 budgetary allotments

The budget allocated for economical services is Rs. 69,306.74 crore which is 27.05% of the total outlay of the budget while Rs. 1,13,340.20 crore is for social services (44.23% of the budget). The budget for the Scheduled Caste sub-plan is Rs. 18,518 crore for 2022-23, higher than Rs. 13,835 crore in the previous year. Meanwhile, Rs. 6,145 crore has been allocated for the Tribal sub-plan in the current year which was Rs. 5,318 crore in the previous year. BC sub-plan gets Rs. 29,143 crore, slightly higher than the Rs. 28,238 crore allotted the previous year.

Minorities Action sub-plan has been allocated Rs. 3,662 crore. Last year, the figure was Rs. 3,077 crore; Kapu Welfare gets Rs. 3,532 crore (Rs 3,306 crores last year); and EBC welfare gets Rs. 6,669 crore (Rs. 3,743 crore last year).

The state budget has allocated Rs. 48,802.71 crore for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes in 2022-23. It was Rs. 39,615.98 crore in the previous year.

YSR Pension Kanuka has been allocated Rs. 18,000.90 crore, YSR Rythu Bharosa Rs. 3,900 crore, YSR Aasara Rs. 6,400 crore, YSR Cheyuta Rs. 4,235.95 crore, Amma Vodi Rs. 6,500 crore, Jagananna Vidya Deevena Rs. 2,500 crore, Jagananna Vasati Deevena (MTF) Rs. 2,083.32 crore, YSR - PM Fasal Bima Yojana Rs. 1,802.04 crore, YSR interest-free loans to self-help groups Rs. 600 crore, YSR interest-free loans to urban self-help groups Rs. 200 crore, YSR interest-free loans to farmers Rs. 500 crore, YSR Kapu Nestham Rs. 500 crore, YSR Jagananna Chedodu Rs. 300 crore, YSR Vahana Mitra Rs. 260 crore, YSR Nethanna Nestham Rs. 199.99 crore, YSR Matsyakara Bharosa Rs. 120.49 crore, diesel subsidy to fishermen Rs. 50 crore, ex-gratia to farmers Rs. 20 crore, Law Nestham Rs. 15 crore, and Jagananna Thodu Rs. 25.01 crore.

Other budgetary allocations include Rs. 3,100 crore for rice subsidy (human resources development) and Rs. 200.02 crore for door delivery of rice. On the industries front, Rs. 450 crore was allotted as incentives for industrial promotion of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Others include incentives for industrial promotion Rs. 411.62 crore, ADB (Asian Development Bank)- Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor Development Program (APRDC component Rs. 250 crore, APIIC component Rs. 236.86 crore), incentives to SC entrepreneurs for industrial promotion Rs. 175 crore, incentives to IT and electronics industries/organizations Rs. 60 crore, and YSR Bima Rs. 372.12 crore.

Also, Rs. 1,149.93 crore was allotted for Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)/National Rural Drinking Water Mission and Rs. 500 crore for Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin.