The State Government of Telangana presented its financial challenges to the 16th Finance Commission and requested additional support. A meeting took place on Monday in Hyderabad, where top government officials discussed the state’s economic issues.
K Ramakrishna Rao, the State Special Chief Secretary for Finance, and Jayesh Ranjan, IT and Industries Secretary, along with other department officials, attended the meeting. The Finance Commission Chairman, Arvind Panagariya, led the session. Committee members Ajay Narayan Jha, Annie George Mathew, Dr. Manoj Panda, and Soumya Kanti Ghosh were also present.
During the meeting, state officials explained the growing debt burden, which they attributed to the previous government’s financial mismanagement. They requested special funds to help local bodies and asked for an increase in the share of taxes collected by the central government that goes back to the states.
The officials emphasized the need for more central help to develop key areas like education, health, and industry. A senior official mentioned that the Commission reviewed the state’s development using statistical data.
The state also pointed out financial losses caused by recommendations from the previous 15th Finance Commission. Sources mentioned that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka would submit a formal memorandum to the Commission in a separate meeting before the Central delegation leaves on Tuesday.
Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration, briefed the Commission about urban local bodies in the state, highlighting reforms and development activities undertaken under the 15th Finance Commission.
Lokesh Kumar, Secretary to Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, informed the Commission that the state had achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status. The Commission also met with business groups such as FICCI and CII. These trade bodies requested changes in the criteria for distributing central funds, suggesting that states with better performance should be rewarded. They also asked for special funds to help revive industries that were hurt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
