7 Bills adopted in Council

Amid protests from the opposition, State government adopted seven Bills, including AP Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Act 2013, in the Legislative Council on Thursday.Introducing the Bill for providing public safety measures at the establishments in the State, State Major Industries Minister J Geetha Reddy, who is handling matters related to the Home Department in the House, said that it was mandatory that all private establishments, including big malls and shopping complexes, to install CCTV cameras within six months after the Bill was enacted.

If any violations were found, the police would impose penalty on the managements.State Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha introduced the Bill to amend the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological Universities Act, 2008 with a view to regulate the mushrooming of professional institutions and to ensure the quality and standard of education. The Minister also introduced another Bill amending the AP Education Act 1982, which was aimed at protecting the quality of education in the larger public interest and to regulate maintenance of academic standards in various institutions.

State Finance Minister A Ramnarayana Reddy introduced three Bills- a Bill further to amend the AP Tax on professions, trades, callings and employment act 1987, Bill to amend the AP VAT act, 2005 and AP VAT ( second amendment) bill 2013. The opposition parties strongly opposed the Bills saying that government imposed tax burden on common man and employees by these amendments. Introducing the Bill to amend Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences University Act 1995, State Health Minister K Murali said that the minister would be designated as the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Institute in the place of to Chief Minister to overcome inconvenience and for administration by suitably amending the Section 2 of the Act.

Resolution on BC, minority Sub-Plan adopted

Hyderabad: State Legislative Council on Thursday adopted a unanimous resolution to bring BC (Backward Classes) and Minority Sub-Plan on the lines of which the SC, ST Sub-Plan was given statutory status by allocating special funds. Replying to a question raised by Congress MLC G Tippe Swamy in the House, State BC Welfare Minister B Saraiah said that the proposal to frame a Sub-Plan for BCs was under active examination.

The government is making all efforts for evolving separate Sub-Plan for BCs. Taking the Minister's positive response on the BC Sub-Plan as an opportunity in the House, the opposition parties together demanded the government to adopt a resolution on BC Sub-Plan. TDP MLA B Venkateswarlu said that the need of the hour was to provide sufficient funds for the welfare and development of BCs. His party would appreciate the government if the Sub-Plan for BCs was brought into force.

CPI member PJ Chandrasekhar said that the government should give top priority to the development of BCs as they consisted of 50 per cent of the total population in the State. He also demanded the government to bring separate Sub-Plan for Minorities. TRS MLA Mahmood Ali said that the minorities should also be given importance in the development programmes taken up by the government. Sub-Plan for minorities would only address the issues including backwardness of the Minority communities, he added.

Welcoming the opposition parties' pro-active response, the Minister said that his government would soon bring in a legislation for BC and Minority Sub-Plan. Responding to the Minister, the opposition members demanded him to adopt a resolution in this regard. On the insistence of the opposition, Council Chairman A Chakrapani announced that the House would adopt a resolution in support of BC Sub-Plan and the same would be forwarded to the government for active consideration.