YS Jagan-led Andhra Pradesh Cabinet nods for new pension scheme GPS

AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, at its meeting presided over by Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, decided on Wednesday to implement a new pension policy for State Government employees in the name of Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS) to replace the contentious Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The draft bill in the name of AP Guaranteed Pension Bill 2023 was ratified on this occasion.

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information and Public Relations Minister Chelluboyina Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna, briefed the media about the 60-odd decisions taken at the cabinet meeting. He said that the State Cabinet decided to sanction an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakhs for victims – hailing from the state – of the Odisha triple train tragedy last week.

He highlighted significant decisions made by the State Cabinet, including the approval of 6,840 new jobs in the state.

The Minister said that the Cabinet decided to allow the regularisation of 10,000 contract employees who have completed five years of service by June 2, 2024. The Cabinet approved the implementation of the Amma Vodi plan and the distribution of Vidya Kanuka this year.

The Cabinet meeting also approved land distribution for the companies with which MoUs were signed at the Global Investor Summit, and other administrative decisions. Providing 28 acres of land on a lease basis to Chittoor Dairy Plant and authorising a loan collection of Rs 5,000 crore through the AP Civil Supplies Corporation were among the other decisions taken at the meeting.

In addition, the Cabinet approved the recruitment of 706 positions for new medical colleges in the state. The Cabinet also sanctioned the establishment of two junior colleges in each mandal.