Telangana, India's youngest state, also the richest, says CM
India's youngest state is now also the richest, according to its CM. As Telangana celebrated its third birthday on June 2, CM K Chandrasekhar Rao announced it had registered a record growth rate of 17.82%. KCR attributed the performance to "proper policy planning, financial prudence and discipline", and repeated the pledge he had made during bifurcation: once created, Telangana would be the richest state.
A range of schemes for women
On the occasion, KCR said the government is spending Rs. 40,000cr on 35 welfare schemes. He also announced new schemes for women, including the 'KCR Kit' for expectant mothers, which would include 16 items like clothes, baby oil, toys etc along with monetary assistance. Monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 for single women with no support was also announced.
Loan waivers, minimum support price and more
KCR said that for the first time in the country, a state had waived Rs. 17,000cr of crop loans to 35.3 lakh farmers. He also announced more sops, including Rs. 8,000 as input cost per acre for two crops per season, and minimum support price for crops. CM launched a scheme to encourage hereditary professions like sheep and cattle rearing, fishing, carpentry etc.
How accurate are KCR's claims?
KCR's claims are backed by reports of the CAG, which said Telangana had registered a 17.81% growth rate in tax collections, the highest among all states. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh had subdued celebrations - a mark that scars of the 2014 bifurcation still remain.
