Hyderabad: Though the captains of the industry feel that the Budget for 2015-16 of Andhra Pradesh set the tone for the development process of various sectors, Opposition leaders feel that the budget was incomplete and lacks clarity.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Y S Jaganmohan Reddy said the TDP government had once again cheated the DWACRA women and farmers. He said in 2014-15 budget, the government had not allocated anything for implementing the loan-waiver scheme of the DWACRA women and under pressure from the YSRCP, this time they allocated a meagre Rs 1000 crore.

He said the amount allocated for waiving off farm loans was not sufficient. He also predicted that the government would increase the cess on liquor, petrol etc heavily to mop up resources.Congress leader C Ramachandraiah felt that the budget was incomplete. He said the government had blamed the 14th Finance Commission for not giving enough grants to the state.

But who is responsible for fewer grants from the Centre? He asked and said the grants for Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, ICDS programme, and mid-day meals have been reduced. MLC PJ Chandrasekhar Rao lamented that there was nominal increase in the budget compared to the last year.

CPM state secretary P Madhu felt that the budget had shattered the hopes of people who believed in the government’s poll promises. He pointed out that the government did not have clear plans to fund the deficit.

Source: THI