The ruling TDP government has increased pensions to aged, widows and handicapped persons to Rs.1000-1500 from October 2nd implementing its elections promise. Nevertheless, it would be additional burden on the cash strapped AP government. However, it decides to go ahead with its plans to preserve its elections-promise.

However, state government has received 5,23,000 fresh applications for pensions from all over the state, after it increases the pension amount. Out of them 43,900 applications are from Krishna district, said state principal secretary IYR Krishna rao. The list of the fresh applicants has been placed in the AP state government web site. After scrutinizing the applicants, pensions will be granted to the eligible candidates, he said.

If so, the state government which is desperately looking for alternative revenue sources to clear the crop loans, will find its problems are multiplied with these fresh applications. Evidently, this number will keep growing every year. So, either it has to transfer the burden back to people by levying fresh taxes or speed-up industrial development to generate new revenue sources. However, government has to create a permanent revenue sources and mechanism specifically to meet this ever growing demand.