NE NEWS SERVICE
AMARAVATI, DEC. 11
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Wednesday has taken a historical decision to protect women and children. The Cabinet under the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has approved to enact a new law (in the name of Andhra Pradesh Disha Act) Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019 and Andhra Pradesh Special Court for Specified Offences against Women and Children Act 2019.
As announced earlier in the assembly by the Chief Minister, in case of proper evidences in the crime cases against women such as rape, this new law will pave way to pronounce the judgment in 21 days and investigation in 14 days. And special courts will be set up to address crimes against women and children.
Action against social media posts degrading women
The bill allows to take actions under Indian Penal Code section 354 (E) against those who upload posts in social media that degrades women’s reputation. For the same, the first time offenders would be punished with 2 years imprisonment, second time offenders with 4 years of imprisonment. Actions would be taken under Indian Penal Code 354 (F) on those who are involved in sexual assault on children. The offenders in such cases will be served with the punishment of 10 to 14 years and in case of severity in the committed crime the punishment would be extended from 14 years to life time imprisonment. The cabinet has approved to extend the imprisonment for such crimes under POCSO Act.
The cabinet decided to set up a new department to bring village and ward volunteers, secretariats under this department. This is to monitor and strengthen the secretariat system.
Cabinet approves setting up of Public Transport Department
The state cabinet has also approved for the setting up of Public Transport Department for merging APSRTC in the government and the department will be included under Transportation, Roads and Buildings, National Highways department.
For the 51,488 employees in APSRTC, the cabinet has decided to recruit those employees in Public Transport Department. The Cabinet also approved for the continuation of existing outsourcing employee services in RTC. The cabinet has decided to withdraw cases registered in Thuni incident, Kapu protest, and Bhogapuram land collection.
Approves YSR pension guidelines
The cabinet approved the YSR Pension guidelines. The government has revised the existing guidelines of YSR Pension; the scheme is applicable for those are earning less than Rs.10,000 per month in rural areas and Rs.12,000 in urban areas. This scheme is also applicable for those who own less than 10 acres of mettu land, or 3 acres of flat land or below 10 acres of both types of lands. Those who own a car and people who pay income tax are not eligible for this scheme. People with 750 square feets of land in urban areas are eligible for this scheme. The cabinet also approved for the formation of Andhra Pradesh General Insurance Corporation with a share capital of Rs. 101 crore.
Nod for Millet Board
The Cabinet approved Andhra Pradesh Millet Board Act 2019 and also decided for the establishment of a board to increase the cultivation of cereals in drought and rainfall areas. The Cabinet also decided to draft a bill for Andhra Pradesh Pulses Board Act, 2019.
The cabinet decided to increase Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Corporation debt limit by another Rs 3,000 crore from the existing Rs 22,000 crore limit. The Cabinet approved Andhra Pradesh Goods and Services Tax Amendment Bill. The Cabinet approved the draft bill to punish who manufacture, sell or transport alcohol illegally. According to the bill, all these offences are non-bailable and judicial remand would be from 6 months to 5 years.
The Cabinet approved Andhra Pradesh tax on profession, trade, callings and employment amendment bill-2019.
Salary hike for VAOs
The Cabinet approved to increase the salary of VOA, Sangamitra and Animators to Rs 10,000 benefitting 27,797 people. The Cabinet approved to allot 15.28 acres of land to APIIC to setup an industrial park at Pamguru village in Yerpedu mandal, Chittoor district. The Cabinet approved to amend section 21-a (1)(e) in Andhra Pradesh Cooperative societies (APCS) act 1964.
Medium of instruction in English for Class 1 to 6
The Cabinet approved to make Telugu as mandatory subject in all the schools in the state. Medium of Instruction should be English for 1-6 class students from next academic year. The Cabinet approved to cancel residential and commercial plots given to land owners who bought the assigned land and given to land pooling in Capital area. Government decided to allot residential and commercial plots to original assigned land owners.
Boost for higher education
The Cabinet approved to amend AP State University act. The Cabinet approved to set up YSR Architecture and Fine Arts University in YSR Kadapa district. The Cabinet approved to amend the law to appoint AP State Council of Higher Education Chairman or his representative as the ex officio member in all the universities in the state. The Cabinet approved to set up a Cluster University by merging Silver Jubilee degree College, KVR Government Degree College and Government Degree College in Kurnool. The Cabinet approved the appointment of Vangapandu Usha as chairman of Department of Culture.
