The State Government has given administrative sanction for ₹400 crore towards meeting the expenditure for the recently announced scheme for providing financial assistance of ₹1 lakh each to backward classes artisans/vocational communities in the State.
The order follows release of ₹ 100 crore earlier for the scheme taking the total quantum to ₹500 crore. The government has made provision of ₹300 crore in the current year’s budget under the scheme and subsequently enhanced the amount by ₹200 crore so as to cover more beneficiaries. Interestingly, the amount sanctioned so far would enable assistance to 50,000 beneficiaries whereas the number of applications received from the beneficiaries since the announcement was made is said to be much higher.
The administrative sanction assumes significance in the light of the huge financial commitments on the government in the form of various schemes including Dalit Bandhu and Rythu Bandhu. In spite of the financial constraints it has been facing of late, the Government made budgetary provision of ₹17,700 crore for Dalit Bandhu and over ₹15,000 crore for Rythu Bandhu.
