Published Dec 08, 2023 | 12:24 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 08, 2023 | 12:26 AM
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy addresses his first Cabinet meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday, 7 December, 2023. (Supplied)
Women of Telangana can avail free travel on Telangana Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses across the state from 9 December, the new Cabinet decided on Thursday, 7 December.
The date of the implementation of the scheme would mark the Congress’ top leader Sonia Gandhi’s birthday.
On the same day, the health insurance coverage under the Arogyashri scheme would go up to ₹10 lakh for the residents of Telangana.
These were the two guarantees that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s first Cabinet, which met at the state secretariat, took.
This initiated the process of redeeming the six guarantees promised by the party to the people in the run-up to the recently-concluded Assembly elections in the state.
తెలంగాణ ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ రేవంత్ రెడ్డి గారి ఆధ్వర్యంలో.. సెక్రటేరియట్ లో నిర్వహించిన మొదటి కేబినెట్ సమావేశానికి హాజరైన మంత్రి వర్గం. pic.twitter.com/NZlW0k4YGD
— Telangana Congress (@INCTelangana) December 7, 2023
Briefing reporters on the decisions taken in the meeting, Cabinet Minister D Sridhar Babu said the chief minister would confer with officials of the departments concerned on Friday for the implementation of the two promises.
He said a lengthy discussion took place on the implementation of the six guarantees and the finances required for their implementation.
The minister said that the Cabinet reiterated its resolve to ensure that there would be a 24-hour power supply to all the sectors — including agriculture.
He added the Cabinet also discussed the damage the recent rains had caused to standing crops in Telangana.
The ministers concerned would visit rain-affected fields in all districts and interact with the farmers, he added. Only then would the government act on the relief package, he said.
To another query, he said that it had not yet been decided whether the chief minister would undertake a visit to the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also sought details of the decisions taken by the previous BRS government on the power sector during the last 10 years, as it felt that several irregularities had occurred. “There was no proper plan when it came to spending on the power sector,” said Sridhar Babu.
Responding to a query whether there would be any action against officials or “others”, Ponnam Prabhakar — another Cabinet minister — replied that it would depend on the findings.
Meanwhile, Sridhar Babu said that the Cabinet had also decided to publish a white paper on the state’s finances from 2014 till 7 December, 2023 — when BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao was the chief minister.
He said the Cabinet wanted to have a clear idea of how the state’s revenues were utilised and for what purpose, and whether any benefit had accrued to the people.
Sridhar Babu also said the review meeting with energy officials would also discuss another guarantee that the Congress had promised — the supply of 200 units of free to domestic consumers.
He added the Cabinet also approved a proposal to call the first session of the new Assembly on 9 December.
As soon as the House would meet, a senior MLA would be appointed pro-tem speaker by the Governor, who would administer the oath to the newly-elected MLAs.
Then the Assembly will elect its Speaker. After that, the Governor would deliver her address to the house.
