Chandrababu Naidu assumes charge as Andhra Pradesh CM: The five files he signed

When Naidu set out from his Undvalli residence to the Secretariat, Amaravati farmers accorded him a rousing reception all through the way. They covered the road with flowers and raised slogans in his support as the convoy of his cars moved on.

The Amaravati farmers, who were on relay hunger strikes for the last 1,631 days called off their protest after Chandrabbabu Niaidu took over as the Chief Minister. They had surrendered land for Amaravati but former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy set aside the construction of the capital as he focused on three capitals, and farmers began looking at a bleak future.

They heaved a sigh of relief after Naidu won the Assembly elections. Naidu and 24 ministers took the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday, 12 June. He later left for Tirupati with his family and offered prayers to Lord Venkateswara.

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Recruiting teachers, increase in pension

The five files prioritised pertain to the notification of a mega District Selection Committee (DSC) to recruit teachers, the abolition of the Land Titling Act, enhancing social security pensions from ₹3,000 to ₹4,000, conducting skill census to ensure employment to the youth and reopening of the Anna canteens.

The mega DSC is expected to open about 16, 347 teaching posts. It was one of the promises Naidu made to the youth during his poll campaign. The break up of the posts is – SGT- 6371, PET -132, School Assistants – 7725, TGT – 1781, PGT – 286 and Principals – 52.

The previous YSRCP government delayed the issuance of the DSC notification — despite making a promise ahead of the 2019 Assembly elections — till February 2024, just before the model code of conduct came into force on 16 March.

However, notification for 6,100 posts ran into rough weather with litigations in courts arguing that sufficient time was not given to candidates to prepare for the DSC as it followed immediately after the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET). Naidu then stepped in and promised to issue the Mega DSC notification within 60 days of coming to power.

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Scrapping Land Tilting Act

The CM also signed a file scrapping the contentious Land Titling Act, another priority for the TDP government. The previous YSRCP government had brought the act on 31 October 2023.

The TDP opposed the act, stating that the YSRCP had an ulterior motive of snatching people’s properties by invoking the provisions of the Act. The TDP said that the act allowed the government — and even outsiders — to take away private properties.

It was also alleged that the act was meant to legalise land encroachments by YSRCP leaders. The issue generated immense heat in the campaign with the TDP, tearing up the land title passbooks printed with Jagan Mohan Reddy’s image on them. Naidu promised to annul the act and protect people’s properties soon after coming to cover. He also included the annulment of the Land Titling Act in the TDP manifesto.

Another important promise Naidu made was raising the monthly social security pensions from ₹3,000 to ₹4,000. The promise was well received, and the CM was keen on implementing it immediately. Naidu also promised ₹6,000 pension to the physically challenged. He signed the file concerned with retrospective effect from April 2024.

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Anna Canteens back in the state

Another file that Naidu cleared is the Anna Canteens. The canteens used to provide food to the poor at the rate of ₹5 per meal when the TDP was in power between 2014-19. After Jagan became the Chief Minister in 2019, the canteens were closed. Naidu decided to reopen them because they would cater to the poorest of the poor.

Additionally, Naidu, keen on addressing the touchy issue of unemployment, signed the file relating to the skill census to develop a databank on the skill levels of the unemployed youth in the state so that appropriate jobs could be provided.

The skill census also would help the state government identify and frame policies for sectors that need to be promoted so that the youth would benefit from them.

Earlier in the day, after worshipping Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, Naidu said that his priority was to create wealth and distribute it among the poor. “I am beginning cleansing of the last five-year rule from Tirumala,” he said and recalled the 93 percent strike rate of the TDP at the hustings.

కుటుంబసమేతంగా ఈరోజు తిరుమలలో శ్రీవారి దర్శనం చేసుకున్న అనంతరం వేదపండితుల ఆశీర్వాదాన్ని అందుకున్నాము. అఖిలాండం వద్ద కొబ్బరికాయలు కొట్టి మొక్కు తీర్చుకున్నాం. రాష్ట్రానికి మంచి జరగాలని… ప్రజలందరూ సుఖసంతోషాలతో చల్లగా ఉండేలా దీవించమని వేంకటేశ్వరస్వామి వారిని కోరుకున్నాను.… pic.twitter.com/RUkvHLSxKM

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) June 13, 2024

He also promised to repay the gratitude to the people for giving him such a massive mandate. He recalled how he survived the claymore mine blast at Alipiri in Tirupati set off by the Maoists on 1 October 2003. “If I am alive today it is because of the blessings of Lord Venkateswara. He saved my life because I had yet to do a lot for the people of the state,” he said and vowed to eliminate poverty from the state.

(Edited by Neena)

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