HYDERABAD: The state government may scrap some of the schemes launched during N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s regime in the combined Andhra Pradesh.
With more focus on the irrigation sector, the finance department has already circulated the schemes which could be discontinued. The secretaries of various departments will give their opinion in the next ten days.
However, sources in the finance department told Express that in separate Telangana state the priorities of the government and the people have changed completely. Now the focus would be on those schemes which would benefit Telangana people, sources said.
The finance department has circulated 839 schemes under state plan. Out of which, the state government’s axe may fall on a host of schemes, many of which have outlived their utility.
For example, Bangaru Talli scheme, which was made through enactment, will pay Rs 1 lakh to the girl child after completion of her graduation. But, the TRS government has already launched Kalayana Laxmi programme to marry off the girl child. Thus, the officials are proposing to drop Bangaru Talli scheme.
“If we want to discontinue a scheme, made through enactment of law, the Act should be repealed,” an official said. However, Telangana has an advantage now. Bangaru Talli is an Act of combined AP and so Telangana may or may not adopt the same.
Likewise, Amma Hastham, a programme to provide nine essential commodities to people through PDS system, which failed to attract the public may also be scrapped. The TRS government is supplying rice at Re 1 a kg without a cap. Indira Jala Prabha, Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu too would be discontinued, as the state government has launched latest versions for the same purpose. By scrapping these schemes, the government is proposing to save money for irrigation projects.
“We are working out to scrap some redundant schemes. A final decision will be taken by the chief minister,” an official said.