From recommending 33 percent reservation for BCs in politics to amending its liquor policy, Andhra Cabinet's made several key decisions on Wednesday.
Published Sep 19, 2024 | 6:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 19, 2024 | 11:20 AM
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The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, which met at the secretariat in Velagapudi near Vijayawada on Wednesday, 18 September, approved a proposal to recommend to the Union government that the Backward Classes (BCs) be provided 33 percent reservations in legislative houses, in a bid to increase their representation.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, opined that if the BCs were financially backward, it was because of a lack of adequate political representation in politics. Additionally, the Cabinet also adopted a new excise policy placed before it by a sub-committee.
The new policy will come into force from the first week of October 2024 and seeks to amend the Andhra Pradesh (Regulation of Wholesale Trade and Distribution and Retail, Trade in Indian Liquor, Foreign Liquor, Wine and Beer) Act, 1993.
The recommendations of the Cabinet sub-committee included following the private retail method to sustain the policy and augment resources for the Andhra Pradesh government.
Briefing media persons after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said the policy would be valid for two years. The scope for retail participation would be more under this policy.
An important feature of the policy is that about 10 percent of the liquor retail outlets will be reserved for toddy tappers, to empower them, which would make it 340 shops all over the state.
The allotment of shops would be made on the basis of draw of lots in a transparent way. The purpose of the policy is to ensure availability of quality liquor at reasonable price in the market.
Scrap GO RT No 6
The Cabinet scrapped Government Order (GO) RT No. 6, dated 7 November 2023, facilitating payment of ₹200 per month additionally to village, ward volunteers and village secretariat employees. The Cabinet acknowledged the fact that the GO was brought by the previous government to benefit some sections and claimed that it was to reap political benefit.
The additional payment entailed a burden of ₹102 crore annually on the state exchequer. Chief Minister Naidu asked the Cabinet to constitute a committee to dig deep into the issue.
NOC to SRM University
Parthasarathy said that the Cabinet had also decided to issue a ‘No Objection Certificate’ to SRM University. It would help SRM get the status of deemed-to-be-university since it has been working towards setting up a skill development academy and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) University in Amaravati to upskill unemployed youths.
The decision was in pursuance of the policy to encourage educational institutions that come forward to focus on AI and improving talent. The Cabinet recalled efforts being made to develop Amaravati into a futuristic city with knowledge generation and application centres.
The Cabinet asserted that the government’s motto was to get 10 reputed universities to set up their campuses in Andhra Pradesh. It also noted that Birla Institute of Technology And Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) had consented to set up a centre in the state.
The Cabinet cleared a proposal to set up Andhra Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Corporation (AEXCO) with a corpus fund of ₹10 crore to help ex-servicemen who suffered permanent disability in wars, and to help war widows.
The corporation would strive to rehabilitate them so that they could live with dignity and honour.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of ₹100 crore corpus fund for 2024-25 to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) avail benefit under the Union government’s Credit Guarantee Scheme.
This will help the MSMEs to get loans up to ₹5,000 crore without collateral guarantees.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to recommend to the Centre to name airport coming up at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district as Alluri Seetharama Raju International Airport.
(Edited by Neena).
