First Cabinet Meet Sets Tone For Jagan Rule: AP to do away with CPS

Amaravati: The first Cabinet meeting of the YSRCP government has taken certain major decisions and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who wants to leave an imprint of his own, has made it clear that he would not tolerate any kind of corrupt practices by ministers.

He said if anyone indulges in such acts, they would be sacked from the Cabinet immediately. The Cabinet announced the dates of implementation of certain schemes to instil confidence among the people.

The five-hour long meeting decided to give 27 per cent interim relief to the employees. This will benefit 4.24 lakh employees. It will put an additional burden of Rs 815 crore on the state exchequer.

It has also in principle agreed to scrap the Contributory Pension Scheme and merge the loss-making APSRTC with the government. It has been decided to constitute a committee on CPS to giver recommendations on overcoming technical and financial problems that are involved in the process of doing away with the CPS.

Similarly, the government has also decided to constitute an expert committee to work out the modalities for the merger of APSRTC with the government.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Minister for Information and Public Relations P Venkataramaiah said it has been observed that the TDP government had diverted Rs 2,940 crore contributions of the employees.

Among other important decisions taken were to implement the Rythu Bharosa scheme from October 15. Under this scheme, farmers will get Rs 12,500. The Cabinet felt that the banks normally adjust all such money released by the government towards old dues and hence a way to avoid such problems should be found.

If need be, grameena banks may be asked to honour the cheques issued by the government. The scheme will be applicable to all farmers and the scheme would be implemented through village volunteers, who would be appointed soon.

It is also decided to constitute the State Rythu Commission soon for the development and welfare of farmers and market stabilisation of agriculture produce. The commission will have 6 or 7 members, including farmers' leaders and agricultural experts in the committee.

The minister said the Cabinet had decided to ask for judicial inquiry on irregularities in various departments. The Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure that nine-hour free power for agriculture during day time.

He said interest-free crop loans will be given to farmers from this agriculture year onwards.

The government will pay the interest directly to the banks concerned.

The TDP government failed to pay input subsidy of Rs 2000 crore to farmers from 2014-18, the minister said. The government will allot Rs 2000 crore as natural calamity fund and Rs 3000 crore towards market stabilisation fund.

It will also purchase paddy by paying minimum support price. It was also decided to dig borewells free of cost and rigs for the purpose would be made available in all Assembly and Parliament constituencies.

The Cabinet has decided to allot house sites to all eligible people and register house sites in the name of women by next Ugadi. Thereafter, 25 lakh houses will be constructed under the YSR Housing Scheme. It is also decided to revive the cooperative sugar mills.

The Cabinet has decided to cancel the outsourcing agencies and consultancies with immediate effect. It also decided to cancel all the existing committees and boards of various institutions, appointed by the TDP government.