-By ArdorComm News Network
March 8, 2022
Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan stated on Monday that the state government has been working tirelessly for the past three years to ensure decentralised and inclusive governance, adding that in line with that goal, the state government has begun restructuring districts. On the first day of the budget session, the Governor told the joint session of the AP State Legislative Assembly and Council that in addition to the existing 13 districts, 13 more are being constructed, and the new system will begin functioning on April 2 in Ugadi.
The Governor noted the country and the state have gone through a difficult period in the last two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic in his one-hour speech, which began at 11 a.m. Bifurcation-related stress, five years of policy paralysis from 2014 to 2019, an economic slowdown from 2014 to 2019, a year of economic depression from 2019 to 2020, and two years of Covid-19 pandemic have all had a significant impact on the state’s budget, according to him.
“The government’s steadfast commitment for extending support to farmers, women, underprivileged, marginalised and vulnerable groups has ensured, even during these excruciatingly difficult times, rural consumption and spending and the economy as a whole does not take a nosedive,” he said. Because of the government’s effective intervention, the state’s GSDP increased by 0.22 percent in the fiscal year 2020-21. In contrast, the country’s GDP fell by 7.3 percent over the same period. In the fiscal year 2021-22, the State GSDP increased by 9.91 percent at constant prices over the previous year.
According to him, the State economy is expected to rebound to pre-Covid levels following a year of sluggish growth. At current prices, the state economy is expected to increase 16.82 percent in 2021-22, according to advanced estimates. With a growth rate of 15.87 percent, per capita income has risen to Rs 2,04,758 from Rs 1,76,707 last year.
The government has adopted the 11th PRC, reaffirming the state’s commitment to the welfare of government employees. He mentioned how the proper implementation of Navarathnalu was made possible by directly providing cash support to beneficiaries’ bank accounts without any leakages. It made a big difference in the lives of the citizens of the state. The Governor went on to describe how the village and ward secretariats, as well as the volunteer system, are paying off handsomely. He went into detail about the state’s efforts to raise educational standards through the Nadu-Nedu programme, for which the government is spending Rs 15,000 crore.
The Governor discussed the government’s efforts to help farmers and improve the farm sector through a variety of programmes including YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan, free crop insurance, zero-interest loans, e-cropping, and in-time input subsidies.
According to the Governor, the Covid-19 pandemic had a negative fiscal impact. “While revenues were constrained, the expenditure had gone up due to Covid mitigation measures,” he said.