The State Cabinet, at its first meeting on Monday, charted out a roadmap to implement the promises made as a run-up to the elections. The Cabinet decided to constitute committees on key issues such as takeover of the APSRTC by the government, abolition of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), regularisation of services of the contract employees and education reforms.
Addressing a press conference, Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Minister Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) said that in a major decision that would have implications on the State finances, the Cabinet decided to give 27% Interim Relief (IR) from July 1. It would benefit 4.24 lakh employees, while the additional burden would be ₹815 crore. The wages of angawadi workers was increased to ₹11,500 per month, while the honorarium for animators etc working under MEPMA/SERP was fixed at ₹10,000 per month. The Asha workers’ salary was increased to ₹10,000 from ₹3,000. It would be ₹4,000 in tribal areas as against the existing ₹400 per month. The wages of sanitary workers were increased to ₹18,000 per month, he said.
The services of contract employees would be regularised based on their qualification. The Cabinet decided to cancel the outsourcing agencies and consultancies with immediate effect. A committee, led by Chief Secretary, was appointed to benefit the employees directly. A Cabinet Sub-Committee comprising of Finance, Education, Medical and Health, Panchayat Raj, Ministers would look into the matter. The Sub-Committee would suggest modalities for the regularisation, he said.
The APSRTC was saddled with losses to the tune of ₹6373 crore. The Cabinet Sub-Committee consisting of Finance and Transport Minister would study the proposal to merge the RTC with the government and also the possibility of its revival. The previous government diverted PF amount to the tune of ₹2,940 crore. The RTC was incurring heavy expenditure due to rise in diesel prices. To tide it over, the government was contemplating introducing electric buses. The RTC incurs ₹38 per km. Introduction of electric buses would bring it down to ₹19 per km, he said.
As per the requests from the people during the padayatra, the government plans to purchase land for housing purposes and give it to the needy. The house sites would be registered in the name of women on Ugadi festival. Thereafter, in next four years, the government would construct 25 lakh houses under YSR housing scheme, he said.
Amma Vodi
Mr. Nani said that the Cabinet decided to launch the Amma Vodi, a programme aimed at encouraging the mothers to send their children to schools, on Republic Day next year. The government plans to pay ₹15,000 to the mother if she sends her children to school instead of workplace. All the white ration card holders were eligible for the scheme, he said.
The government plans to appoint village volunteers by August 15. The volunteers would take the government welfare schemes to the doorstep of beneficiaries. The volunteers intending to work in rural areas would have to pass intermediate, while in urban areas he/she should pass degree. In tribal areas, the volunteers should have passed 10th standard. Also, the village secretariats would be operational from October 2. The appointments to village secretariat would be made through DSC, he said.
Agriculture Minister K. Kanna Babu was also present.
