With Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao dropping enough hints about early elections and that a political announcement will be made in the next few days, there is intense speculation that the next Cabinet meeting on September 4 or 5 may see announcement of major populist schemes.
Adding fuel to the speculation is the circular issued by Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi that all departments should submit their proposals awaiting Cabinet approval by 3 p.m. on September 4. Some departments like Health have no new proposals as all their schemes have been rolled out.
Sources sought to explain that the proposals to be sent to Cabinet would be pertaining to those for which file had already been moved and in circulation after the Chief Minister’s approval for inclusion in the Cabinet agenda. They mostly pertain to sanction of buildings, lands for some institutions, completion of small works under some irrigation projects or repair of tanks.
For instance, Sunday’s Cabinet meeting approved the file that was already in process for sanction of buildings and lands to various communities. So far there were no indications about consideration of new schemes or enhancement of monetary benefits or announcement of new monetary benefits to any particular group in the Cabinet meeting, they said.
Interim Relief
However, some sources indicated that announcement of Interim Relief to government employees awaiting Pay Revision Commission’s report and announcement of dole to unemployed youth are very much on the cards but it is for the Chief Minister to take a final decision.
Proposal to hike the amount given under Asara pension, dole to unemployed youth and IR to employees can be implemented straight away in anticipation of reaping the good will when the ruling party is keen on holding early elections. But other proposals like new irrigation projects, bringing more habitations under the Mission Bhagiratha drinking water supply project, sanction of new industrial parks, IT hubs will take time for implementation even if cleared by the Cabinet, sources said.
Apart from proposals expected to be cleared in the Cabinet meeting, government is also considering various announcements related to new schemes and benefits ahead of elections and to be implemented if the TRS party is voted back to power for the second consecutive term. These proposals will find place in the election manifesto of the party and Chief Minister announced that Rajya Sabha member Kesava Rao will chair the manifesto committee. Sources, however, said that more than 75 schemes which were not in the last election manifesto had been implemented by the TRS government. “The Chief Minister seems to be in a desperate mood and whatever the opposition is promising, if he thinks it touches a chord with the people, it will make into the manifesto. So everything is on table but as of now he has not revealed his mind,” they said.
‘Reservoir of ideas’
Another source said that those who observed Mr.Chandrasekhar Rao’s functioning in the last four-and-a-half years will know that he is a reservoir of ideas and will come out with sudden announcements.
A senior source said that KG to PG, two bed room housing which could not really take off in the last four years might get prominence in the manifesto. Another populist scheme can be introducing nutritious breakfast/lunch across the State at the subsidised rates. Unemployment dole in urban areas is very much on cards but it calls for huge exercise on identifying the beneficiaries and financial implications before being rolled out.