Andhra Pradesh to begin caste census after November 20

AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, in a meeting presided by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday, decided to conduct a caste census after November 20, 2023, said Minister for I&PR, BC Welfare and Cinematography Chelluboyina Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna.

Disclosing the details of the meeting at a press conference at the Velagapudi Secretariat, Venugopala Krishna said that the State Government would take suggestions from various community leaders who demanded a caste census. District collectors across the State would be involved in the process to take the opinions of the community leaders in their respective areas about the caste census, he added.

The Minister said that round table discussions would be conducted in five locations to gather comprehensive details from community leaders about their struggle and need for a caste-based census . Apart from that, the Cabinet discussed several important issues that included setting up of industries with an investment of Rs 19,000 crore through the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), establishment of skill development centers in 6,790 high schools across the State and allotment of 100 acres of land for the National Law University in Kurnool, he said.

Venugopala Krishna said that a new land allotment policy for industries was approved, with 800 acres of land allocated in Kurnool district for the establishment of a megawatt wind power plant. The other proposals approved in Cabinet included distribution of house plots to journalists, stamp duty waive off, registration fees and user charges for the registration of houses and plots to support Polavaram residents and allocation of 5,400 acres of land for the establishment of a 902 MW solar power plant in Nandyal and Kadapa districts, he said, and added that the Cabinet discussed Group 1 and Group 2 recruitment in the State.