Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu took charge at the State secretariat at 4.41 pm on Thursday. Soon after, he signed five files related to the key promises made to the people during the elections. The 74-year-old signed the files in the presence of the beneficiaries. However, an announcement on the allocation of portfolios is yet to be made.
As promised, his first signature was for releasing a notification to conduct a mega DSC exam for recruiting 16,347 teachers. The second file he approved was to abolish the controversial AP Land Titling Act, brought by the previous YSRC regime. He also cleared the file for hiking monthly social security pensions to Rs 4,000 from the existing Rs 3,000. Additionally, he signed files to re-establish Anna Canteens and to conduct a skill census. Accusing the previous YSRC government of not filling even a single post through DSC, Naidu said the youth were not only deprived of government jobs as notifications were not released, but they also could not get private jobs because no industries were established.
Stating that Andhra Pradesh has the highest unemployment rate of 24% in the country, the Chief Minister said the NDA government decided to clear the DSC file on priority as several youth had raised concerns over unemployment.
While signing the file to abolish the Land Titling Act, Naidu said his government decided after noting that there were several issues in the law. Further, he alleged that former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy intended to tamper with land records with the help of his henchmen and also made settlements.
“As per the Act, land disputes can be resolved only by the High Court. This way it would take years to solve land issues and so we decided to abolish the Act,” he explained.
Pointing out that it was TDP founder and former chief minister NT Rama Rao who introduced pensions of Rs35 per month, Naidu recalled that he had first enhanced it to Rs 75 and later to Rs 1,000 from Rs 200 following the bifurcation of the State. The YSRC government hiked the pension by Rs 1,000 in installments in the past five years. But as promised, pensions have been increased to Rs 4,000 from Rs 3,000 in a single stroke, he averred. Further, Naidu explained that the pensions will be given in July itself and that the enhanced amount will be disbursed retrospectively from April. This means beneficiaries will receive Rs 7,000, including the Rs 4,000 payable in July. Persons with Disabilities will receive a total of Rs 12,000 in July.
Stating that the TDP government established Anna Canteens to provide food to the poor, Naidu said marginal employees and daily wage labourers benefited from them as they could eat three meals a day at Rs 15 (Rs 5 each). But the previous YSRC government closed the canteens and deprived the poor from getting food at affordable prices, he added.
Andhra Pradesh is 1st State to take up skill census to provide job opportunities to youth
Elaborating on skill census, Naidu said, “Since the youth is not getting proper employment opportunities despite pursuing higher education, skill census will be taken up to address the issue. Andhra Pradesh is the first State to take up this exercise which will certainly provide better employment opportunities to the youth if they have the required skills,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Naidu and his family had Darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, Tiruchanoor Padmavathi Ammavari temple and Goddess Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada.
Farmers of Amaravati gave a rousing welcome to Naidu while he was heading to the State Secretariat. A bed of flowers was laid on the road leading to the Secretariat. Newly sworn-in Ministers, including Nimmala Ramanaidu, Dola Sri Bala Veeranjineya Swamy and S Savitha, who addressed their maiden press conference, gave details of Naidu’s first day at the Secretariat.
