KCR goes all out on quotas and sops to consolidate his party’s position in the 2019 assembly polls. But mounting state debt could play spoiler
CHIEF MINISTER K. Chandrasekhara Rao is in a hurry. On a sweltering Sunday, April 16, the Telangana legislature sat for the whole day and made history of sorts by increasing the reservations for Muslims in the state from four to 12 per cent, and for Scheduled Tribes from six to 10 per cent.
In another unprecedented decision, just three days earlier, on April 13, he took even his cabinet colleagues by surprise by announcing that farmers in the state will be provided fertiliser at state expense from the next kharif. All 5.5 million farmers in the state, both big and small, will get Rs 4,000 an acre annually for purchase of fertilisers from the next financial year. It is apparently one of the most radical measures ushered in since Independence for the farming sector. Of course, it will cost the state about Rs 6,000 crore a year.
Earlier, on April 11, fulfilling a key pre-poll promise, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government released Rs 4,000 crore as the final installment of the Rs 16, 374 crore crop loan waiver scheme benefiting over 3.6 million farmers. “The slew of measures, including fertiliser grant, loan waiver, quality power supply and improved water sources will lead to sustainable farming in the state,” says state agriculture minister P. Srinivas Reddy.
This story is from the May 01, 2017 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 01, 2017 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated