The state Cabinet approved a bill to amend two laws that prohibited people with more than two children from contesting the local body polls.
Published Aug 08, 2024 | 9:32 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 08, 2024 | 9:32 AM
Even as the state is witnessing a gradual decrease in its youth population, the number of seniors has been increasing. (Representational image/iStock)
“Go forth and multiply,” seems to be the new mantra of Andhra Pradesh as the state sees a gradual decline in the youth population.
To begin with, the state will do away with the restriction imposed on those with more than two children from contesting the local body elections.
On Wednesday, August 7, the state Cabinet approved a bill to amend the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1955, and the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965, which imposed the restriction.
The N Chandrababu Naidu-led Cabinet considered the gradual decline in the population of youths and felt that the trend should be reversed. A Cabinet meeting in Vijayawada noted that the current 11 percent senior population might increase to 19 percent by 2047.
At the national level, the population of those aged 60 and above, has been projected to increase to 15 percent from the present 10 percent.
The Cabinet opined that efforts should be made to halt the state’s fast-changing demographic profile — a declining number of youth and an increasing population of seniors.
Briefing media persons after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Public Relations Minister K Parthasarathy said the council of ministers approved another proposal extending the ban on CPI (Maoist) and Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) by another year.
The ban was imposed under Section III of the Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act, 1992.
The Cabinet also approved a new excise policy to make quality liquor easily accessible to the common man.
“The liquor that was available under the previous government harmed the health of the people who consumed it,” Parthasarathy said, adding that henceforth only quality brands would be retailed.
“The Cabinet noted that the state exchequer had lost about ₹18,000 crore because of the ill-advised excise policy,” he said. The new excise policy, effective from 1 October, would also include measures to prevent the smuggling of illicit liquor and ganja.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet cleared a proposal to hold gram sabhas to resolve land disputes that arose after the previous government converted lands under Section 22 A of the Registration Act into “freehold” to “appropriate” them.
The lands listed under Section 22 A cannot be registered in favour of anyone. They include assigned lands or land given to individuals, land belonging to the Union and state governments, endowments, Wakf Board, or any other religious institution, among others.
Parthasarathy said the Cabinet decided to review the lands under dispute after they were declared freehold. The previous government had registered 25,000 acres after removing them from under Section 22 A.
“The Cabinet decided to halt for three months the registration of 22 A freehold lands which have been caught in disputes,” the minister said.
Parthasarathy also announced that new pattadar passbooks with the emblem of the state government and QR code would replace 21.86 lakh land rights survey documents. It has also been decided to remove the image of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy from boundary stones planted in the fields.
The Cabinet approved the filling of an additional 380 posts in the newly created medical colleges in Vizianagaram, Rajamahendravaram, Eluru, Machilipatnam, and Nandyal, in compliance with the National Medical Commission norms.
It also decided to commence the 2024-25 academic year in medical colleges constructed recently in Paderu, Markapur, Pulivendula, Adoni, and Madanapalle.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
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