Two Years of the TRS rule in Telangana
- In Politics
- 06:43 AM, May 23, 2016
- Venkat Gandhi
The three main slogans for the Telangana Statehood Agitation were about its fair rights in:
1. Neellu (Water)
2. Nidhulu (Resources)
3. Niyamakalu ( Jobs )
1. Water
In the first Year the TRS Government launched an Ambitious Rural Economy Revival Program "Mission Kakatiya" to restore the Water bodies in each village by selecting over 7000 in first phase from over 40,000 water bodies based on the priority of their potential to revive the rain water harvesting capacity by strengthening the bunds of the water bodies and de-siltation of tanks. Many major and medium irrigation projects were reworked with clear focus on
Ø Leveraging the existing investments
Ø Leveraging the allocations committed already and protected by the Tribunal and AP Re-organization act
Ø Cancelling projects like Dummugudem - Tailpond link that have a sole objective of diverting Godavari water to Krishna delta without serving the needs of Telangana where the entire investment is to be made.
Ø Removing the elements that are deliberate ploys to put the project under inter-state dispute or put environmental clearance headaches routing canals thru national parks etc..
Ø Increasing the capacity of reservoirs to store the water lifted from Godavari and Krishna Rivers
Ø Adding new barrages on Godavari with minimal investment and inter state troubles to make things happen faster
Ø A Grand Plan of how to take Godavari and Krishna rivers to all constituencies of Telangana and achieve 1 Crore acre irrigation against existing 30 lacs i.e. Lower than what the region enjoyed under the nizam.
2. Resources (Nidhulu)
Ø By virtue of full statehood with Hyderabad as its capital, this is achieved from day 1 and 14th Finance Commission identifying Telangana as Only Second State with Revenue Surplus proved the historic claim of Telangana movement that resources from Telangana were diverted to develop Andhra Region by the brute majority of the region in violation of the Gentlemen Agreement signed before the merger of Andhra State and Telangana Region of Hyderabad state in 1956
Ø Telangana Government could quickly launch most of the poll promises with sufficient resources at its disposal like providing Rs 1000 per month old age pension that has got tremendous trust and confidence of all the people in the state with the party and CM KCR
Ø The remarkable success of Telangana Intensive Household Survey has helped the Government to pluck the leakages in the Government spend on social sector and increase the reach of targeted sections with more precise estimates.
Ø The Government’s ambitious budget has been on track as far as state’s own revenue projections in the first full year 2015-16 while the anticipated central assistance was significantly lower and it managed to control its expenditure accordingly.
3. Jobs
Ø There has been a significant delay to kick start this, primarily due to the inordinate delay in bifurcation of employees between AP and Telangana, The State went ahead with launching recruitments in State undertakings likes TSGENCO/TSTRANSCO and Singareni Collieries
Ø It launched the nationally acclaimed On-line State Public Service Commission Recruitment process with amazing results.
Ø Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) has been awarded ‘Skoch Order-of-Merit Award-2015’ for successfully adopting, implementing IT initiatives and conducting online exams in a transparent and foolproof manner. Around 700 departments of State and Central government competed for the award.
As far as the main 3 Objectives of Telangana statehood, the KCR Government is doing commendable work and has set to rest many concerns and malicious propaganda that the statehood movement was subjected to since the launch of TRS in 2001 by KCR.
Political Achievement of TRS party in the second year
Ø The Landslide victory of GHMC by TRS thrashing the TDP-BJP combine that had won a decent amount of seats in the 2014 elections. TRS won 2/3rd Seats on its own and won the Mayor and Dy Mayor Seats. KTR leading the campaign has transformed perception of TRS across a section of the people.
Ø The party has made inroads in to places where it lacked presence historically.
Ø Strategic and selective inductions have virtually TDP and now YSRCP in Telangana
Ø TRS now holds 2/3 of MP and MLA’s from Telangana State
Ø In every by election since 2014 TRS has gained vote share across the state significantly at the cost of TDP followed by Congress
Ø KTR has emerged as the No 2 and States’s face Ambassador for the Industry with all related ministries under him (Industry, IT, Municipal Administration, Mines and NRI Relations)
Sectorial Achievements:
Economy:
As per Economic Outlook placed in the assembly, the state is expected to record 9.2% GSDP against the national average of 7.57% this is very commendable as it comes after the state saw negative growth in agriculture due to severe drought in most parts of the state. In addition to it, the State also managed to keep the consumer inflation at 4.3%
Power:
Telangana continued to maintain its commitment to supply uninterrupted power in-spite of poor monsoons resulting in steep fall in availability of Hydro Power it could manage to add 600 MW plant by TSGENCO and another 600 MW by Singareni Collieries before the Summer peak demand in April 2016
TS continues to propel with augmentation of Thermal and Solar Power Plants to Gear up the state for higher levels of power supply to the rural sector. Rural agriculture is primarily based on Irrigation Pumps / bore wells lifting water from few hundred feet under the ground
Social Welfare and Inclusive Growth
Ø This is the best indicator of the KCR Government and other states may start adopting some of the good practices brought in by the TRS Government
Ø Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the State. IMR in Telangana has now come down from 39 to 28 per 1000 live births, as against the national average of 40, which is a significant achievement after the formation of the State.
Ø Government has been providing Aasara Pensions to protect the most vulnerable sections of the society in particular, the old, physically challenged persons, people with HIV-AIDS, widows, incapacitated weavers and toddy tappers (32.18 lakh). Government is also providing monthly financial assistance to Beedi workers (3.53 lakh). These schemes have been a great support to the families in providing social security to meet minimum needs of a dignified life.
Ø State Government increased the coverage of Food Security Act by relaxing eligibility criteria and providing additional rice at a cheaper rate. Every eligible person is provided with 6 kgs.
Ø Government has launched a massive drinking water supply scheme, “Mission Bhagheeratha”, with a vision to provide tapped water connection to each and every household in all habitations. This pioneering scheme has been commended by the Government of India for other States to emulate.
Industry & IT:
Ø Launching of Micromax Mobile Production within a year of its intent to setup the facility in Hyderabad
Ø Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, Uber and many more choosing Hyderabad as their Major Base outside US has resulted in Hyderabad being touted as Silicon Valley of India
Ø Launch of T-Hub within a year’s time with over 100 startups up and running made Hyderabad talked as Startup Destination in India
Ø Apple Starting the Center for Map’s application in Hyderabad by the CEO Tim Cook on 19th May 2016 with a potential for almost 4,000 employees.
Ø With Amazon and Apple Commissioning the Operations all within the 24 months period of Telangana State coming into existence and Google starting construction of its Biggest Campus outside US Head Quarters; it has made Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Apple the 21st Century ‘Char Minars’ of Hyderabad.
Endowments and Tourism:
Ø Amazingly Telangana State performance on protection and promotion of all religions true to its reputation of Ganga-Jamuni-Tehzeeb is very high compared to any other state in India, probably only state that allocated budget for development of Hindu Temples while many states divert temple funds to public services governed by the governments.
Ø Telangana conducted Godavari Pushkaram’s in a way that it made people all along 500 Kilometer Godavari stretch in the state celebrate and the organization success can be measured from the fact, in all previous pushkaram’s it always was people from Telangana made to go to Rajhamandry in AP, for the first time pilgrims to the sites in Telangana were more than AP and that included many coming from AP to the Pushkar Ghats in Telangana due to better facilities after the stampede tragedy in Rajhamandry.
Ø Telangana featured as 3rd best state in India attracting International and Domestic Tourists as per FICCI report.
Programs that did not meet with Good Success:
Ø Swachh Hyderabad – Swachh Telangana started with a good amount of publicity and focus from Governor and Chief Minister this did not sustain so is the challenge of cleaning Hussain Sagar lake that has become quite Toxic with Zero Oxidation level and Zero possibility of survival of fish or any marine life. Similar is the fate of Municipal Solid Waste that is either piling up in the street corners, or transfer stations or central dump yard where the problem is simply transferred but not eliminated as the Waste continues to emit GHG (Green House Gases) causing the air pollution that affects the health of City Citizens. It is also against best practices to transfer entire city Waste into Single Dump Yard causing high level of transportation costs and rising the Risks of type of Hazardous Fires Mumbai witnessed recently
Ø Harita Haram – This initiative too started with good intent and initiative has has become a non-initiative with no visibility on the horizon. The survival rate of the plantation which is a key measure of success, is a major issue. This is another important thing for the State and City to become a Global and Sustainable Green Society in the world.
Challenges Ahead:
Public Education (KG to PG): This is the Biggest Poll Promise that Government gave. It is still doing its home work and is yet to come up with a credible and concrete plan, it has taken the first step of introducing model schools and increasing residential schools. This is a welcome move to test the waters, without addressing the fundamental weaknesses of public primary schools in the state with faculty and infrastructure, one is expecting CM KCR to take personal interest in third year to firm up the Blue Print for KG to PG
Irrigation Projects Completion: While Mission Kakatiya has been a huge Positive step followed by Good Re-design, the Government has to ensure speed delivery of Quick Wins that will Add a big Boost to the State Irrigation. It will add Barrages and lifts on Godavari at Kaleshwaram and Link it to the Mid-Maner and Add Barrage on Godavari to increase availability of Water to Devadula LIFT scheme on which major investment is already done. Similarly it will have to Complete the LIFT Projects Koilsagar Bheema, Nettempadu from Jurala Kalwakurthy from Srisailam as part of Palamuru LIFT now to start delivering results to stop the severe water shortage and depletion of ground water levels in backward and arid south Telangana.
Completing Mission Bageeratha: Must complete to deliver Drinking Water to every home in the state before next elections in 2019
Public Healthcare: The long neglected area of not building new Government hospitals across the state has left the people to depend on private sector for healthcare. This has made life difficult for poor people in the state.
Two Bed Room House Scheme:
CM KCR deserves full credit for coming up with good quality Government Housings and doing it with passion without any allegations of bribes so far. However doing this completely FREE is not a Good Practice as it is neither affordable nor sustainable for good governance. One sincerely hopes that the Government comes up with Various Schemes based on the Income levels and sets the minimum contribution levels of the beneficiaries, Government Subsidizing the Housing for Poor is Part and parcel of accepted Good Governance norms, but it should not be 100% FREE.
Telangana State is on its way to demonstrate practical and prudent solutions to many nagging problems of India, particularly Water Management.
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