The Hindu : Front Page : Government clears Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Government clears Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: As expected, the State Cabinet on Monday cleared Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s proposal to introduce the subsidised rice scheme in its original form, as implemented by the late Telugu Desam founder-leader N. T. Rama Rao.

Meeting after a month’s gap, the Cabinet adopted a unanimous resolution asking the Finance and Civil Supplies departments to work out a strategy to go ahead with the supply of rice at Rs. 2 a kg to 1.82 crore white card-holders, with an extra commitment of Rs. 1,012 crore.

Information Minister A. Ramanarayan Reddy told reporters later that the modalities of the scheme and the date of grounding would be announced shortly.

The Cabinet also cleared a plan to modernise and strengthen the State police force to tackle terrorism, extremism, factionalism and law and order problem, by recruiting 37,880 men, purchasing modern weaponry and floating OCTOPUS, all at a cost of Rs. 882 crore. The new recruits would strengthen the 16 police wings, besides taking the total force to an all-time high of 1,58,880. As part of the plan, all Ministers/VIPs would get bullet-proof Scorpios.

Green signal

The meeting gave green signal to improve livestock and dairying with a budget of Rs. 500 crore in 2007-08. It has decided to open six residential schools for tribal girls in Agency areas and five degree colleges for girls/boys.

“Bhoorakshana” wings are to be set up in Kakinda, Tirupati and Hyderabad with appointment of deputy collectors, tahsildars, surveyors and revenue inspectors to protect temple lands.

The Minister said the Cabinet sanctioned Rs. 100 crore to AP Genco towards its equity participation in the 4,000-MW thermal power project planned at Krishnapatnam.

It cleared Government guarantee to nine cooperative sugar factories to enable them to pay arrears of Rs. 62 crore to cane-growers through the A.P. Cooperative Bank.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page