Elections likely in February, YS Jagan hints Cabinet; pensions hiked to Rs 3,000

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked his Ministers to be ready for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections by February 2024 as there is a possibility for the Centre to release the notification a little earlier than expected.

While the elections scheduled towards late March or early April, Jagan speculated that the Centre might opt for an early election.

"We must be fully prepared for the elections. Ministers should work efficiently at the field level. The election schedule may be released 20 days earlier than before," YS Jagan indicated at the Cabinet meeting on Friday and emphasised the importance of completing all pending tasks by the first week of February.

Important decisions taken at the Cabinet include

• From January 2024, pensions would be increased from Rs 2,750 to Rs 3,000.
• Approval of a 15 per cent increase in allowance for those working in anti-naxal operations.
• The Cabinet discussed the payment of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief to the staff and pensioners working in courts on par with Central Government employees.
• A discussion was held on allotment of 110 plots of land under fifty acres to APIIC.
• Taking a loan of Rs 552 crore for AP State CCTV surveillance project.
• A discussion was held in the Cabinet meeting on the proposal to set up an additional district sessions court in Tadepalligudem of West Godavari district.
• A decision would be taken in the on creation of 982 temporary posts for the conduct of general elections.
• The Cabinet approved the allocation of 20 cents of land for the setup of AP CID regional office at Rayanapadu in Vijayawada.
• The Cabinet has given a green signal to the decisions taken by the Cabinet sub-committee and steering committee for YSR Jagananna Saswatha Bhu Hakku-Bhu Raksha Scheme.
• Under Arogyashree, the treatment cost limit has been increased to Rs 25 lakh
• Implementation of YSR Asara and Cheyutha Schemes in January.
• Light Metro Project in Visakhapatnam approved by DPR.
  
  The second phase of Jagananna Arogya Suraksha would start from January.
• Reforms in grant of caste and income certificates.