Telangana spending Rs 33,600 Cr on welfare schemes; Dy CM Bhatti calls for increasing non-tax revenue

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has called on state officials to intensify efforts to increase non-tax revenue and ensure fair allocation of funds across all departments.

Chairing the Infrastructure and Capital Sub-Committee meeting at the Dr BR Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat here, Bhatti emphasized the need for responsible and revenue-focused governance to sustain the government’s extensive welfare commitments.

Welfare push amid financial constraints

The deputy chief minister pointed out that the government is rolling out welfare schemes worth Rs 33,600 crore, including Rythu Bharosa, Mahalakshmi, free electricity, Indiramma Housing, and loan waivers, without discontinuing any programs initiated by the previous administration.

Bhatti also noted, however, that the state lost significant revenue in 2023–24, particularly from the Outer Ring Road and excise duties. To bridge this gap, he directed officials to actively mobilize central funds and focus on increasing non-tax revenues. Departments with revenue-generating potential must be given priority, he said.

Rational spending and budget equity

Bhatti Vikramarka also flagged the uneven distribution of budgetary allocations across departments. Some sectors, he said, are overfunded while others remain under-resourced. He instructed that funds be allocated equitably and used judiciously, in line with the actual needs and priorities of the state.

“Expenditure should be realistic and necessary,” he said. “The focus must remain on public welfare, development, and fiscal responsibility.”

Ten-day deadline for Rationalization

The deputy chief minister urged officials to complete the financial rationalization process within the next ten days and prepare comprehensive implementation plans. He also stressed that pending infrastructure and development projects should be prioritized and completed without further delays.

“All departments must work in alignment with the goals of the people’s government,” he said, calling for coordinated action to ensure inclusive and balanced progress across the state.

The meeting was attended by committee members and ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, along with Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, Principal Secretary (Finance) Sandeep Kumar Sultania, and senior officials from various departments.