TS Cabinet meets today to discuss new schemes on agenda

By Our Special Correspondent

The state cabinet, when it meets here on Thursday, will discuss a number of issues including the announcement of new schemes and mobilization of additional financial resources for the state.

A cabinet meeting will be held at Pragati Bhavan from 3 pm. In an official press release issued on Tuesday, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said: "Discussions will be held on mobilization of additional resources for the state and other key issues."

The Cabinet is also expected to approve Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's decision to extend support pension to 10 lakh additional beneficiaries in the state, for which the state government will receive an annual sum of Rs. 2,400 crore additional funds are required.

It will be a tough task for the government to extend support pension to new beneficiaries while continuing the existing welfare schemes, especially in the wake of the “financial sanctions” imposed by the Centre.

The central government has already reduced the state market borrowing limit by Rs 15,000 crore this year. Moreover, the state is not receiving funds as expected from the centre. In this context, the state government is planning to mobilize additional financial resources.

“We have been working for the last four months to mobilize additional resources. The state's own revenue has increased marginally with steps like plugging the loopholes in the mining sector,'' said an official.

The state government has recently auctioned off some valuable land and hiked taxes and fees for vehicle users. Sources said the cabinet is expected to consider options to increase its own financial resources.

The state cabinet will take a decision on the release of 75 prisoners and the upgrading of Warangal Jail to an open air jail. A decision is also expected to be taken on declaring orphans as children of the state government. The state provides education and other facilities to these orphans.