Telangana government would soon introduce the internet as a basic right, focusing not just on the creation of digital infrastructure but also on making it accessible and affordable to all sections of society.
This was announced by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan while addressing the joint session of the Legislative Assembly and Council on the opening day of the budget session.
The government would unveil a comprehensive digital literacy programme to ensure that every household, regardless of its economic status or location, would be able to benefit from the rapid digital adoption of opportunities that are arising, the governor said.
Plans were afoot to position Hyderabad and Telangana as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) capital of the country by inviting the top global and national technology companies to set up their AI Centres here.
“We will set up a dedicated AI City in 50-100 acres,” Soundararajan said.
She also announced the Congress government’s resolve to implement two more guarantees— the Mahalakshmi scheme envisaging LPG cylinder at RS 500 and the Gruha Jyoti scheme to provide free power up to 200 units to eligible households – soon.
Through initiatives like “Rythu Bharosa” and crop loan waiver, the government aims to empower the farming community with crop diversification programmes, horticulture promotion, quality seeds and advanced agricultural practices, she said.
A new policy for small and medium enterprises will be announced soon to help them with improved technology, the ability to recruit skilled manpower, financing, and market access. An exclusive institutional mechanism would also be set up to handhold MSMEs and support their grievances.
Stating that the government would continue to support champion sectors like IT and Pharma, Soundararajan said the government would set up 10-12 Pharma village clusters of extents between 1000 and 3000 acres, which would be away from habitations and also self-contained with facilities for effluent treatment, testing labs, logistics infrastructure, and social infrastructure for housing, education and healthcare.
“Telangana has been meeting its energy needs predominantly through coal. To optimise the cost of power, meet the demand profile of the State, and increase the energy share from clean energy, the Telangana government will come up with a comprehensive “Energy Policy” to promote all types of green energy sources to meet peak requirements. The Government aims to improve the share of green energy significantly and reduce carbon emissions by 2030,” she said.
The governor also announced a comprehensive tourism policy for the promotion and preservation of architectural wonders, culinary delights, reservoirs, and temples of India’s youngest state.
A comprehensive, door-to-door caste survey would be taken up to obtain the data required to estimate the social, educational, economic, employment and political opportunities for various castes in general and Backward Classes in particular.
The immediate challenge, the governor said, was to improve the State’s financial situation without burdening the people. The budget for the financial year 2024-25 would allow starting the path of restoration, responsibility and accountability in the management of public finance. The rebuilding process would extend to institutions that suffered in the last decade. All the institutions that were critical to the growth and development like TSPSC, Telangana State Human Rights Commission (TSHRC), State Information Commission and universities would be given space to function responsibly, she said.
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