The AP government is moving ahead with welfare schemes, creating records of sorts with cash transfers which no other state in the country has done. In the 18 months since the YSRCP came to power, Rs. 20,000 crore has been deposited in people’s accounts in the name of various welfare schemes and 80 per cent of this amount was borrowed as loans.
The state government is no longer eligible for new loans having utilised the year’s maximum limit in just six months. With options drying up in handing out Navaratnas, the government is now depending on people and extracting whatever it can.
Intolerance among middle-class
Any government will get more revenue from the middle-class. Tax revenue to the government depends on their purchasing power. Many people lost jobs because of the Coronavirus. Some are working for half pay. This has reduced the purchasing power of the middle-class sections. With this the government revenue also fell sharply. The AP government now hopes to rake in money directly from the people. They are trying their best to collect even a single rupee and hence heavy penalty is being imposed by the AP transport department. In addition, the state government has taken another step by enforcing 16 regulations strictly giving targets to the transport department officials to immediately collect Rs. 600 Crore from motorists. There are also incidents of lorry owners being penalised for overload and penalty of Rs. 40,000 being imposed on them.
“I can’t pay such huge fines, will hang myself” says a lorry driver
The regulations enacted by the AP Transport Department are terrorizing motorists. The transport department officials are handing out penalties of anything between Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 40,000 on being caught. A similar incident took place in the heart of Vijayawada. Authorities stopped a lorry at the Benz Circle flyover and checked the load. As per the latest rules, a fine of Rs. 39,800 has been levied leaving the driver-cum-owner of the vehicle shocked. He begged in front of the officials that he cannot pay such a huge sum, but officials showed no mercy. It is learnt that the lorry driver pulled a rope, tied it to the vehicle and attempted to hang himself. He was immediately rescued by police and transport officials.
AP Government’s strict enforcement
Authorities have begun fleecing people to increase government revenue. RTC charges have been increased, electric slabs changed and charges raised. Sand in the state is the new gold. Hike in RTA penalties is leaving motorists terrified. Land registration charges have hit the roof. Liquor charges are beyond the common man’s reach now with new brands hitting the shelves. Finally, they are collecting Rs. 2,000 annually from those setting up roadside curry point, fruit cart, chat cart and vegetable cart.
The middle-class man is scratching his head as to what he is getting and what is being taken from him.
