Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday announced that his Cabinet will have five deputy chief ministers. They will be from one each from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Castes, minority and Kapu communities. This is reportedly the first time that a state Cabinet will have five deputy CMs.
Days after Jaganmohan Reddy was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he fulfilled his assembly election promise to ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers in the medical and health department and increased their salaries from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000.
Jagan had expressed concerns over the disappointing condition in government hospitals in the last five years and said that his government is determined to reconstruct the medical and health department.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who was sworn-in on May 30, was quick to walk the talk.
Jagan promised that the state would restore 108 ambulance services that began during former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s rule and increased the old age pension to Rs 2,250, with effect from June.
“Soon, we will increase it to 2,500 and then to 2,750 and then to Rs 3,000 per head, just like we promised,” he reportedly said.
A Hard-Fought Battle
“This mandate has put upon me a huge responsibility. I will bring upon good governance that will make the nation stand and look up to Andhra Pradesh,” said Jagan in a tweet.
Competing against the former ruling TDP whose tally fell from 102 seats in 2014 elections to 23, Jagan-led YSR Congress achieved a majority in the 175-member Assembly by successfully gaining 151 seats.
YS Jaganmohan Reddy earned the feat in a journey that has been as dramatic as in cinemas.
In the year 2014, Jagan faced a massive defeat at the hands of Chandrababu Naidu. Months after the loss, he bounced back, taking over the Naidu government.
From organising padayatras across the state, covering over a distance of 3,500 km by foot to coining slogans like ‘Ninnu Nammam Babu’ (we don’t trust you, Babu,) reminding people of the promises Naidu failed to fulfill, including special category status for the state, loan waivers, employment in every household and free housing for the poor; Jagan fought it out.
He soon reaped the electoral benefit of the battle fought.
Jagan’s Blueprint For The State
Riding the wave against the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government and after the wait for nine years, Jagan Mohan Reddy is steering his party to new opportunities and ventures.
Soon after taking charge, Jagan announced that there will be village volunteer for every 50 households in the state. “They will be appointed by August 15 and be paid Rs 5,000 a month so that they can be an effective link between the people and the government.”
The new Chief Minister also rolled out a plan for setting up village secretariats, each looked after by 10 persons, to cooperate and collectively carry out decisions with village volunteers for government services. This change is expected to come in effect from October 2 and it aims at providing jobs to about 1.6 lakh people.
Jagan’s victory is indicative of a big anti-incumbency wave that swept across the state of Andhra Pradesh and accompanying high hopes from the young leader.
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