Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Gives Nod To Caste Survey

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took several important decisions including conducting a comprehensive caste-based census in the state on November 3, 2023.

• The Cabinet took the decision to conduct the caste census in a meeting held at the Secretariat, a month after the Bihar government released the caste survey data.

Essential for the well-being of the oppressed classes:

• While discussing the issue, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said that it would be helpful in improving the lives of the oppressed classes and taking their social empowerment to the next level.

Karnataka also claimed to conduct caste census by the end of the year:

• Earlier, neighboring Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said that his government would accept the caste census report in November or December this year.
• Siddaramaiah stated that the report would be presented to the Cabinet for discussion and further action would be determined following the deliberation. 
• He also accused the three former Chief Ministers, H.D. Kumaraswamy, B.S. Yediyurappa, and Basavaraj Bommai, of rejecting the survey conducted during his previous term by H. Kantharaj, the then Chairman of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission.

The demand for conducting caste census has now become common:

• Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and MP Rahul Gandhi, who are part of the opposition alliance India, have also demanded caste census on several occasions.
• Priyanka Gandhi had openly demanded this in a public meeting in the election state Madhya Pradesh. She had said that this exercise is necessary to know the exact number of people from OBC, SC and ST communities in the country so that policies can be made accordingly to provide benefits to them.
• The caste census conducted in Bihar has revealed that there are 84 percent OBCs and Dalits in the state.
• Many other important decisions were taken by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on 3 November 2023, the major ones are as follows:

Jagananna Arogya Suraksha:

• Additionally, the cabinet commended Jagananna Arogya Suraksha, which has hosted 11,700 camps, conducting 6.4 crore medical tests.
• The state government conducted 8,72,000 eye tests, 11,300 eye surgeries, and distributed 5,22,000 spectacles.
• The Chief Minister proposed ministers' active engagement in the relaunch of Arogya Suraksha from January 1.

Aarogyasri App Download:

• The Cabinet plans to launch a public awareness campaign for the YSR Aarogyasri program from November 15 to December 15. 
• The campaign aims to promote the Aarogyasri app and inform people about the free medical treatment available for various diseases at empaneled hospitals.

Land allocation policy will be implemented:

• Further, it also decided to implement a new land allocation policy for setting up industries, allot 5400 acres of land to Ecoren Energy India Limited for setting up 902 MW solar power plants in Nandyala and YSR districts and allocate additional 2 acres of land and MRK Group has decided to set up a hotel in Tirupati district.

800 MW wind power plant in Kurnool district:

• The Cabinet approved the establishment of an 800 MW wind power plant in Kurnool district and the allocation of 100 acres of land for a National Law University.

Decision to convert 1200 acres of land into green hydrogen sector:

• The Cabinet granted approval for government office construction in multiple districts and allotment of industrial land by APIIC (less than 50 acres).
• Furthermore, APIIC will transform 1,200 acres in Pudimadaka, Anakapalle district, into a green hydrogen sector, facilitating a thermal power plant and attracting Rs 95,000 crore in investments through NTPC.
• It has agreed to provide a major concession on payment of electricity duty by the ferroalloys industry employing about 50,000 persons.
• This will impose a financial burden of Rs 766 crore on the state's treasury.

Loan guarantee of Rs 5000 crore for purchase of Kharif paddy:

• A decision has been made to provide a loan guarantee of Rs 5,000 crore to the Civil Supplies Corporation and Markfed for Kharif paddy procurement.

Increase in dearness allowance:

• The Cabinet approved a 3.64% increase in dearness allowance for government employees and pensioners from July 1, 2022. 
• It also endorsed the Local Cadre and Direct Recruitment Draft 2023, dividing the state into six zones, with 95% of appointments reserved for locals. 
• The Cabinet fulfilled its commitment to journalists by allocating residential accommodation and provided land for Piduguralla Municipality's complex. 
• The government will train students in future skills at 6790 government high schools with the help of nearby engineering colleges. 
• Additionally, it greenlit a Dialysis Research Center and Super Specialty Hospital in Markapuram and approved 21 posts in the Department of Nephrology at Markapuram Medical College. 
• Finally, the proposal to grant Group I jobs to table tennis player Saketh Mineni was accepted.