TELANGANA

At 70%,Telanganahas one of the highest Percentage of anaemic children in age group of 6 months to 5 years among states.

As per the report tabled by the Centre in Parliament in response to a query on effectiveness of Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme, the number of anaemic children in the state has increased from 60.7% in National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) to 70% in NFHS-5 released two years ago. Other states with high number of anaemic children are Gujarat (79.7%), Punjab (71%) andRajasthan(71%).

While Centre has launched AMB to reduce anaemia in Women, children and adolescents through a life cycle approach, it seems to be on rise across these categories.

Anaemia in women across age groups is also high in with 57.6% in aged 15-49 affected. It is 64.7% in girls aged 15-19 and 53.2% among pregnant women, Union minister of state for health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in the report tabled in the Lok Sabha.

The goods and Services tax (GST) collection has shown improvement a 17% Growth this March when compared to March 2020.

According to the latest figures on GST collection released by the Union Government, the had collected Rs 3,562 crore in March 2020, and the collection went up to Rs 4,166 crore in March 2021, registering a growth of 17%.

Among the southern states, Kerala recorded highest growth in GST collection at 24% and lowest growth in collection was observed in case of neighboring Andhra Pradesh (5%).
Among other states, Tamil Nadu witnessed a growth of 23% this year when compared to March 2020.

Karnatakatoo had good GST collection growth rate at 11% when compared to March last year.

Along withTelangana, two other states (HaryanaandNagaland) recorded 17% growth in GST collections in March when compared to last year. Coming to Telangana, there has been consistent growth in the GST collection since July last year, barring few months.

In November 2020, the state had shown negative growth rate 5% less growth in GST collection compared to November 2019.

To attract students, including international pupils from Far East and Southeast Asia, thegovernment is planning to establish a Buddhist University atNagarjunasagar, about 165 km from Hyderabad, in Nalgonda. This will be the first university in south India and unique in terms of courses being proposed.

The State Government has already developed Bhuddavanam in a sprawling 274 acre at Nagarjunasagar and part of the land, about 40 to 60 acre, would be allocated for the university. Nagarjunasagar has been chosen for setting up the university as first Buddhist philosopher and monk, Acharya Nagarjuna, lived at Nagarjunasagar and preached Mahayana.

He said as many as 68 subjects (themes) Buddhist culture, architecture, literature and other subjects such as medicine, paintings, Philosophy, hospitality, martial arts, engineering, administration, management and technology at the time of Buddha will be taught. A Malaysian group has come forward to develop the university as the owner of the group is a follower of Acharya Nagarjuna. The firm is also setting up a Food Processing Industry at Siddipet.

ThePolavaram Project Authority(PPA) has launched a joint survey to clear the apprehensions ofTelanganagovernment with regard to the submergence of villages under the backwaters of Polavaraam project.

The Centre has turned down ‘s claims but the PPA agreed to take up the survey to put the project works on fast track.

Citing the recent floods to the Godavari, Telangana lodged a complaint with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Cwc and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti seeking to halt thePolavaramproject.

Telangana alleged that many of its villages in Bhadrachalam and Kothagudem mandals were inundated for several days due to floods after the construction of the Polavaram project.

At a time when states are facing pressure to lower value added tax (VAT) on diesel and petrol sales, the Controller and Auditor Generals (CAG) report forTelanganareveals that the government was already facing a of Rs 8,000 crore according to calculations till September.

In sharp contrast to budget predictions of a total revenue surplus of Rs 6,743 for the entire fiscal year, CAG now predicts a revenue deficit of up to 119%.

The budget estimates (2021-22 financial year) states that the states own Revenue Receipts will be Rs 1.76 lakh crore this fiscal year, with Telanganas own Resources being Rs 1.23 lakh crore.
Until September, it was projected that the state would earn Rs 53,000 crore in revenue, but it only received Rs 43,000 crore from its own sources, which is only 30% of the anticipated income.The state has raised loans of Rs 25,573 crore in the first six months of the fiscal year.

According to CAG estimates, the state has also earned Rs 12,000 crore through VAT sales.
The numbers also reveal that the states own tax collection is on course, but the Centres grant, the state portion of central taxes, and non-tax revenue forecast have all taken a hit.

From the collection of VAT, the state enjoyed a significant income source in the form of Rs 13,000 crore and Rs 8,000 crore from excise duty. Stamps and registration revenue was the next largest source of revenue, accounting for Rs 4,000 crore so far.

The State Government has estimated that it will get Rs 30,000 crore as non-tax revenue in this financial year, but has only earned Rs 4,000 crore until now.

For the first time since its formation,Telanganais on course to record non-tax income, mostly due to sale of land parcels. Till July alone the state has earned Rs 7,432 crore, which is the highest evernon-tax incometill that month. Moreover, the state has already realised nearly 30% of its estimated Rs 25,421 crore total non-tax income in this fiscal.

The increase in non-tax income this year can be gauged from earlier collection till July since state formation: It stood at Rs 1,925 crore (2021-22); Rs 1,069 crore (2020-21); Rs 1,744 crore (2019-20); Rs 1,372 crore (2018-19); Rs 1,721 crore (2017-18); Rs 854 crore (2016-17); Rs 1,706 crore (2015-16); and Rs 689 crore (2014-15).

The difference between state tax and non-tax revenues is significant. Tax is levied on income earned by an individual or entity () as well as the value of transactions involving goods and Services (Indirect Tax). Non-tax revenue, on the other hand, is mostly through charges against govt services.

ASecret Service Fundto encourage informants to help curbforest crimessuch as wildlife hunting, encroachments and smuggling would soon be set up by the , forest ministerA Indrakaran Reddysaid

Addressing forest officials and other stakeholders at a one-day workshop by Telangana state forest department at the Dr Marri Channa Reddy Human resource development Institute, the minister said thatCM K Chandrasekhar Raohas allocated Rs 4.06 crore for the Secret Service Fund.

The responsibility of forest officials has increased further in the wake of CMs emphasis on curbing forest crimes.