Telangana Finance Minister Etala Rajender today welcomed the decision of the Centre giving freedom to the states to make use of financial allocations for their own schemes.
Speaking to media persons here, the finance minister stated that instead of forcing the States to implement its schemes, the Centre is giving free hand and respecting the states with regard to fund allocations and their use. ‘We certainly appreciate the gesture of the Centre for giving total freedom to the states’ he said. ‘Indeed this is a good sign and we welcome the 14th Finance Commission allocations made to Telangana State. The commission had allocated the funds that were sought by the Telangana Government’, the finance minister said. Centre is recognizing the priorities of the states which sought the allocations and freedom to use the funds as per the priorities, Rajender stated. The funds will be spent for a wide gamut of welfare schemes and development programs in the state, he maintained.
The Finance minister further expressed content and happiness on the allocations made to Telangana state which will prove handy. ‘As per our plan of action the Telangana Government will make ample use of the funds on priority basis and spend for chosen schemes’, he added. He also said that the state will seek the Centre to allot more rice quota for Telangana. ‘Soon we will meet Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and seek to allot more rice quota for Telangana State’, Rajender said. Since the state is implementing Rs. One a kg rice scheme to cater to the poorest of the poor and deprived classes in the state, rice quota is not adequate, he said. He exuded confidence that the Centre will honor their request to hike rice quota. (NSS)
