Poll defeats forced NDA govt to take pro-farmer steps: TRS

Hyderabad, Feb 29 (PTI) Appreciating the pro-farmer measures in the Union Budget, ruling TRS MP B Vinod Kumar today claimed it was electoral defeats that forced the NDA government to do so.

"In democracy, it is the people that are ultimately all-powerful. By defeating the BJP in the elections that have taken place since May 2014, they have sent a clear message.

"This is what has forced the (Narendra) Modi government to take notice of their persistent demands and is the real reason why there is a focus on agriculture and rural development," he said in a release.

The appreciable initiatives in the Budget include the target of doubling farmers' income in five years, Rs 2.87 lakh crore as grants-in-aid to Panchayats and municipalities, Rs 5,500 crore for crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Rs 2.2 lakh crore for infrastructure development, National SC/ST Hub for entrepreneurship development and LPG connection to rural women, Kumar said.

"Another welcome decision is to appoint a committee to review the FRBM Act (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management). This is of special importance to the government of Telangana. Being a revenue surplus state, it is seeking an increased borrowing limit ie up to 3.5 per cent of state GDP.

"This requires exemptions under the FRBM Act. In this context, it is a welcome decision to review the working of the Act and the committee should take a decision on this at the earliest," he said.

The rules and conditions for the implementation of the Budget proposals should be simple and pro-poor for their benefits to flow down to the people, the MP added.