Telangana Finance Minister Etela Rajender, who is preoccupied with preparation of the budget for the next year, has indicated that it would be in a scientific manner with new format. Naturally, he said that the government has to take into account the impact of implementation of GST and demonetisation while preparing budget for financial year 2017-18.

However, he assured that the budget would focus on welfare and adequate funds would be allocated for various sectors. He said sufficient allocation would be made for the pension scheme for Single Women who will get Rs. 1,000 monthly pension from April this year.

As per new format, capital and revenue expenditures to figure in the proposals following new guidelines issued by the Union government. Chief Secretary S P Singh wanted the secretaries and head of departments to prepare the budget estimates as per the priorities of the state government keeping in mind instructions given by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Singh said that the plan and non-plan expenditure would go and the budget estimates should be submitted in capital and revenue expenditure format. The chief minister coined ‘maintenance and scheme expenditure’ for the two new heads, he said.

The chief secretary said that under the maintenance head, the establishment expenditure, maintenance and payments and under the scheme head subsidies, grants and scholarships should be included. He, however, directed the officials that the funds for SC and ST plans should be continued as per their population.

Singh wanted the officials to submit the utilisation certificates for all the works done with the Union government funds immediately. “The chief minister is very particular about submission of utilisation certificates. Conduct a meeting with HoDs in this regard,” the chief secretary told the secretaries.