English News Paper

29/07/2021

28/07/2021

Crisis in Tunis

Parliament's suspension seems a power grab

by President, not a response to public anger T unisian President Kais Saied's decision to sack the Prime Minister and suspend Parliament, amid wi despread anti-government protests, has trig gered the worst political crisis in the country since the Arab Spring protests. Among the countries affected by the Arab street protests, Tunisia was the only one that managed to successfully transition from dictatorship to parliamentary democracy. But the North African coun try's elected rulers never managed to ease its economic woes, or offer stable governance. Tunisia has had nine governments since 2011, with its crisis-hit economy be ing battered further by the COVID-19 outbreak - last year, its GDP contracted by 8.8% in real terms. The trig ger now is the government's poor handling of the pan demic. The country of 11.8 million has recorded nearly 18,000 COVID-related deaths so far - one of the highest per capita death rates in the world. Only 7% of the pop ulation are fully vaccinated. Last week, the govern ment's move to speed up vaccination by opening it for all above 18 years ended in stampedes and violent inci dents. Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi sacked the Health Minister, but public anger refused to subside. On July 25, Tunisia's Republic Day, protests broke out and the offices of the ruling party, Ennahda, stormed. This allowed the President to sack the government.

President Saied says he stepped in to "save the state". But in a country where the wounds of decades-long dic tatorship are yet to heal, his move to dissolve an elected government would raise concerns rather than comfort. Both the President and Parliament are popularly elect ed. Mr. Mechichi had the backing of Ennahda, the lar gest party in the suspended Parliament. President Saied, who is an independent, has had a testy relation ship with Ennahda and the Prime Minister. While the Mechichi government has clearly failed in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, the President's move to dissolve Parliament appears more a power grab than a genuine attempt to address the country's problems. Ennahda and at least two other parties have accused Mr. Saied of orchestrating a coup. If they resort to protests, it would pitch the parties that control Parliament against the President, deepening political instability. The 2014 Constitution has called for a constitutional court to set tle crises like these, but the court has not been formed yet. Under the Constitution, the President oversees on ly the military and foreign affairs, while the Prime Mi nister is in charge of the day-to-day affairs of gover nance. So to avoid a constitutional crisis, the President will have to appoint a Prime Minister, who should win the confidence of the Assembly of the People's Repre sentatives. Mr. Saied should act within his constitution al limits, recall Parliament and allow the formation of a legitimate government, which could take steps to ad dress Tunisia's economic and health-care woes.

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28/07/2021

Dangerous conflagration The clash between Assam and Mizoram's

police forces was clearly avoidable Tollowing a dangerous and avoidable escalation of an otherwise dormant border dispute, five police men and a civilian from Assam were killed in the Mizo border town of Vairengte in clashes between pol ice from the State and their counterparts in Mizoram, on Monday. The sequence of events, beginning October 2020, suggests that what began as skirmishes between residents close to the disputed border between Assam's Cachar and Mizoram's Kolasib districts has snowballed into a violent confrontation between police and resi dents. The events point to a failure of the constitutional machinery, empowered to de-escalate tensions at the border. The presence of central paramilitary forces should have helped maintain the peace, but it is cu riously not the case. Besides, Assam and Mizoram are governed by the BJP and its ally, the Mizo National Front, respectively, and are part of North-East Demo cratic Alliance, of which the Assam Chief Minister, Hi manta Biswa Sarma, is a founder-convenor. The politi cal bonhomie should have allowed the respective Chief Ministers to tamp down border tensions and to return to the status quo through joint fact-finding teams, in volving the administrative officials in maintaining the peace over the border issue. Instead, both Chief Minis ters have been exchanging allegations on Twitter, seek ing the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and using videos to tell a story that suited their version of the events - a farcical means of communica tion. This also occurred just days after both Chief Minis ters (along with others) met with Mr. Shah to discuss the resolution of inter-State border disputes. The unfor tunate loss of lives has led to hardened stances, with Mr. Sarma announcing that Assam would deploy "4,000 commandos to guard its border", even as Mizoram's Chief Minister Zoramthanga has maintained that the ca sualties followed from the Assam police's actions.

Sectarian tribalism has been the bane of the North eastern States, with underdevelopment acting as a cata lyst in complicating knotty issues over land and other issues in the region. There is no sure-shot and quick so lution possible to the border disputes between various States without a spirit of give and take and a civic en gagement brokered by the Union government. But for that to happen, governments should, first, not condone violence of any kind and restrain partisans engaging in such activity in their respective States. A resort to one upmanship will only prolong the disputes and harden stances. The Home Ministry must ensure that the As sam-Mizoram border situation is first subject to de-es calation and steps taken to return to the status quo that prevailed before the skirmishes began in October 2020 with the cooperation of the respective States.

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28/07/2021

Cinemas in Telangana to open on July 30

The State registers 645 new infections:; with higher testing, Kerala records a sharp increase in cases

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

After a gap of over three months, movie theatres in Telangana are scheduled to reopen on July 30, with Telu- gu films Thimmarusu and Ishq. Theatres have been permitted 100% audiences.

Mahesh Koneru, who pro- duced the legal thriller Thimmarusu, said the team waited for theatres to reopen and did not consider a digital release.

COVID-19

Ishq was originally sche- duled to release on April 23. Another film, Narasimhapu- ram, was also expected to be released on July 30.

The State government is sued a notification directing theatre managements to adhere to the maximum ceil- ing rates, as laid down by the government.

Film exhibitors had been pointing out that in rural areas, ticket prices were un- realistically low, between 10 and 250, Exhibitors argued that they would not be able eet recurring mainte- nance and sanitation costs with such low ticket prices.

Film industry representa tives were hopeful that And- hra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy would allow ticket pricing that would also benefit theatres," N.V. Prasad, a film

producer said. Film industry insiders said

more than 20 Telugu films had completed censor certi- fication formalities and were awaiting release in late Au- gust and September.

Khammam witnessed a spike among 645 cases in the State for the second day with 72 new infections on Tues- day. With this, it stayed at the top of the State's infection tally for the day along with Greater Hyderabad also logged 72 cases. The district had recorded 62 cases on Monday. The new cases in- cluded 58 from Karimnagar, 52 from Warangal Urban, 47 from Pedapalli and 42 from Nalgonda.No case was re- corded in Narayanpet, and only one infection each was detected in Vikarabad and Medak.

Kerala registered a steep increase in COVID-19 cases with 22,129 new infections on Tuesday, as testing in- creased to 1,79,130 samples. The test positivity rate (TPR) was 12.35%. The State had 1,45,371 active cases on Tuesday.

The State added 156 re- cent COVID deaths to the of ficial list.On Tuesday, the number of patients newly ad- mitted to hospitals climbed to 2,351. However, total hos pitalisations of those with moderate or severe COVID has remained more or less steady at 26,266.

Malappuram district re- ported the highest number of 4,037 cases, Thrissur 2,632, Kozhikode 2,397, Er- nakulam 2,352, Palakkad

2.115, Kollam 1,914, Kottayam 1,136, Thiruvananthapuram 1,100, Kannur 1,072, Alap puzha 1,064, Kasaragod 813, Wayanad 583, Pathanamthit ta 523, and Idukki 400 cases.

Karnataka on Tuesday re ported 1,501 new cases, 354 of them from Bengaluru Ur ban, and 32 deaths.

The TPR for the day was 146 %. The State conducted 1,02,494 tests.

As many as 1,767 people tested positive for COVID-19 and 29 succumbed to the in fection in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. Chennai, along with 16 other districts, re corded no deaths due to CO VID-19.

(With inputs from Thiru vananthapuram, Bengaluru and Chennai bureaus)

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28/07/2021

A man who treads middle path

Newly elected CM Bommai was troubleshooter for BJP during House stalemate

KARNATAKA BUREAU

BENGALURU/HUBBALLI

Sixty-one-year-old Basavaraj Bommal, chosen by the BJP as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka, is known as a man who treads the middle path in a right-wing political outfit.

Known as a man who is not easily ruffled and has good parliamentary skills, he is known to be a trou bleshooter for the BJP dur ing the legislature stalemates as he also has cordial rela- tionship across political affi- liations. Even during the tur bulent times in the faction-ridden BJP, Mr. Bom mai did not have many polit- ical detractors.

Politics and administra tion are not new to him, as he is the son of Janata Pari- var stalwart the late S.R Bommal, who had served as Chief Minister of the State and also Union Minister.

to the BJP fold and also went on to become its Chief Minister.

Hailing from Hubballi in north Karnataka, Mr. Basav ir araj Bommal is one the few prominent leaders from the region who have made it big in the State's political landscape.

Mr. Basavaraj Bommal served as political secretary to the then Chief Minister J.H. Patel in 1996-97.

In 1997, he was elected to the Legislative Council for the first time from the Local Bodies Constituency (Dhar wad, Haveri, and Gadag area) and then went on to re tain it in 2003.

He was elected Deputy Opposition Leader of the Up per House from 2000 to 2004. He is representing Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district in the As sembly for the third time in a row after joining the BJP.

Change of guard: Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh felicitating CM-elect Basavaraj S. Bommal in Bengaluru on Tuesday. ANI

In fact, Mr. Basavaraj Bommai's migration from a socialist party such as the Ja- nata Dal (United) to the BJP in 2008 had raised many eyebrows, particularly in the wake of his father being a fol- lower of Marxist M.N. Roy. But the junior Bommal man- aged to assimilate into the BJP and also became its soft

and progressive face.

He earned the goodwill of the BJP high command for staying with it when his mentor and BJP veteran B.S. Yediyurappa left the party in 2012. But that did not spoil his relationship with Mr. Ye diyurappa as he remained his trusted lieutenant when the veteran leader returned

28/07/2021

No power supply to many tribal hamlets along the Godavari

Tribals urge District Collector to supply solar lamps, arrange generators

In spate: Houses submerged in floodwater in East Godavari district. K.V.S. GIRI

RAJULAPUDI SRINIVAS POLAVARAM (WEST GODAVARI DT.) Many tribal villages on eith- er side of the river bank plunged into darkness for the last few days owing to floods in the Godavari. The Kondareddy and Koya tribal people are staying in the for- ests in constant fear.

Electric poles, some about 20 feet tall, and hous es were submerged in flood waters. There no power to the tribal habita- supply to tions in Devipatnam, Chin- Kunavaram, tur, Yetapaka, Kun Polavaram and Velerupadu mandals in East and West Godavari districts. More than 3,000 families are liv- ing in the villages.

Officials of Andhra Pra- desh Eastern Power Distri- bution Corporation (APEPDCL) said that power supply was stopped as the flood water touched the main conductors at Polavaram.

APEPDCL Jangareddygu- dem Executive Engineer K. Meghanath Ambedkar said power supply was disrupted to 18 villages in Polavaram mandal alone. Power would be restored once flood re- ceded, he said. Mr. Ambed-

kar said as the river was in spate, water was touching the power cables and some poles were in water.

Collector Kartikeya Misra directed the APEPDCL offi cials to prepare plans for laying new lines by erecting towers through the forests. He asked the officials to send the proposals for lay ing new lines.

"We are living in constant fear. Many poisonous snakes and insects and and pythons are moving in the forests. Reptiles problem is more due to floods," said K. N Krishna Reddy, a resident of Koruturu. "To save our selves from the floods, we shifted to the hill. There is no power for the last few days. We request the Collec tor to supply solar lamps and arrange generators to prote us from snakes and animals," said Vijaya, a villager.

Mr. Misra directed the K.R. Puram ITDA and Reve nue officers to supply solar lamps and arrange genera tors immediately. "We are discussing with the K.R. Pu ram ITDA, Revenue and oth er departments to restore. power," Mr. Ambedkar said.

+ Security beefed up ahead of Maoist Martyr's Week

from the District Police, per sonnel from Andhra Pra Security has been beefed up desh Special Police (APSP) and CRPF took out a peace rally asking people not to the call given by the support t left-wing extremists, at Ara ku Valley. Police officials al so appealed to locals to in form them if they witness movement of suspicious. ice, B. Krishna Rao, teams persons in their locality.

HARISH GILAI

in Maoist hotbeds in the Agency areas of the district ahead of Maoist Martyr's Week, scheduled to be ob- served from July 28 to Au- gust 3. Following instructions from Superintendent of Pol-

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28/07/2021

Gear up for third wave, C

Officials to prepare district-wise action plan by August-end

STAFF REPORTER

GUNTUR

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mo- han Reddy on Tuesday di- rected District Collectors to be alert to tackle the possible third wave of COVID and said they should be ready with a district-wise action plan by the end of August.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy called for increasing the in- frastructure facilities, bio- medical equipment and oxy- gen beds as per the requirement and added to complete paediatric care training to staff nurses.

Reiterating that vaccina- tion was the only method to combat COVID, Mr. Jagan said during the weekly grie vance programme, Spanda na, that the country had been manufacturing fewer doses of vaccine than the re quirement and the State go vernment had been vaccinat ing people as per the allocations made by the Un ion government.

The first dose of vaccine was administered to 1.53 crore people of the required seven crore doses and added that the vaccine was admi nistered to 75.89% of people above 45 years of age and it needed to reach 90% and then the vaccine should be administered to other priori ty sectors.

He said priority should be given to teachers, pregnant

women and students. He told the officials to pay spe cial attention to vaccination of teachers as the schools were being reopened.

Positivity rate

On the positive note, the im- pact of COVID had been de- creasing gradually and the positivity rate had been re- duced to 2.82% from a peak of 25% during the second wave during April-June 2021. The Chief Minister discussed with District Collectors and SPs a wide range of issues.

Lauding the role of village secretariat staff, volunteers,

ASHA workers, doctors, ANMS and District Collectors in containing COVID, Mr. Ja gan said that door-to-door fever survey was conducted 13 times and the people with symptoms were identified, tested and provided treat ment.

He congratulated them for putting in efforts to decrease the mortality rate and con taining the spread of the virus.

The Chief Minister said fo cussed testing should be done through RTPCR tests by identifying people with symptoms.

Jagan to launch 'Vana Mahostav' on Aug. 5

STAFF REPORTER

GUNTUR

Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy will launch the plantation drive (Vana Mahostav) in the State from Mangalagiri near the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on August 5.

Collector Vivek Yadav and MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy reviewed arrangements with revenue, police and forest officials.

The Collector asked the officials to coordinate and ensure that the programme is a success.

Guntur Urban SP Arif Hafeez, Joint Collector (Revenue) A.S. Dinesh Kumar, Joint Collector Prasanthi and Joint Collector (Housing) Anupama Anjali, DFO (territorial) Ramachandra Rao, DFO Vijaya Kumar and DPO Kondaiah were present

on the occasion.

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28/07/2021

Srisailam temple EO refutes BJP charges

Supreme Court hearing matter pertaining to Muslims running shops in temple complex

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT sons belonging to Muslim Rafi-were having shop leas- Court. One hearing was held KURNOOL

community was conducting es. When they were served and it has been adjourned. Bhramarambha Mallikarju- commercial activity in the notices to end the lease, they So the Endowments Depart na Swamy Devasthanam Ex- temple complex area, saying moved the Andhra Pradesh ment is in no way compro the matter is in the Supreme High Court which rejected mising the rights of the Hin

ecutive Officer Karanam S. Rama Rao has refuted the al- Court.

legations levelled by BJP As per the Section 13 of sald.

their plea last year, the EO dus and we are following the

law in letter and spirit," Mr.

State president Somu Veer- the A.P. Endowments Act, "Following the High Court Rama Rao told The Hindu. ple affairs that only two per- but two persons-Razak and proached the Supreme am was also false, he said.

raju on the Endowments De- only Hindus should be al order, we served notices on Allegations that Muslims partment and the officials lowed to conduct all types of them and sought possession were removing the Siva Lin managing the Srisailam tem- activity on temple premises, of the shops. But, they gams from the Ganta Math

Srisailam sluice gates may be lifted today as reservoir brims

All 33 gates of Tungabhadra Dam in Karnataka lifted

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

KURNOOL

All the 33 gates of Tungabha dra Dam at Molnabad near Hospet in Karnataka have been lifted and 68,452 cu secs is being discharged into. the river through the spill way as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday, while the Srisailam reservoir is very close to reaching its full reservoir level (FRL) and the gates are likely to be lift ed anytime after Wednesday afternoon.

The total average inflow at the T.B. Dam at 7 p.m. was 1,08,895 cusecs, while the water level was 1631.90 feet against FRI of 1633.8 feet and the dam is currently holding 96.639 tmcft against a maximum of 100.8 tmcft. The engineers were releas ing 9958 cusecs into the ca nals. Water through the Tun gabhadra Right Bank Low-Level Canal (LLC)

Tungabhadra water flowing through Sunkesula Dam in Kurnool district on Tuesday. u. SUBRAMANYAM

reached Kurnool district and water was being released from Sunkesula too.

The inflows into Srisailam reservoir at 7 p.m. were 3,24,341 cusecs with Jurala discharging 3,08,320 cusecs and Sunkesula 1,05,332 cu- secs, the Srisallam reservoir will receive 4,24,258 cusecs. The water level at the Srisal

YSRCP leaders violating constitutional rights: TDP

STAFF REPORTER

VIJAYAWADA

TDP State president K. Atch- annaidu has accused the YSRCP leaders of infringing the constitutional rights of the elected representatives of the TDP In all Assembly constituencies in the State, describing it as 'violations of protocols.

Mr. Atchannaldu said that the problem was more in- tense in the constituencies where the TDP MLAs won in 2019 elections.

"TDP candidates elected as sarpanches, members of the MPTCS, ZPTCS and cor- porators are not getting due respect. The YSRCP leaders are trampling upon the con-

stitutional and democratic rights of the people's repre sentatives of the TDP. The YSRCP is violating the proto col guidelines to further their political aspirations," alleged Mr. Atchannaidu.

The former Minister further alleged that the offi clals at all levels were acting as per the whims of the YSRCP leaders. "The YSRCP government has adopted a dictatorial approach, des pite the strictures being passed by the courts against its policies and pro grammes. False cases are being folsted on those who are questioning the consti tutional violations," he al leged.

lam Dam was 877.10 feet against an FRL of 885 feet. The current storage in Srisal lam was 173.469 tmcft against a capacity of 215.80 tmcft.

All low-lying areas in the city and along Tungabhadra from the Karnataka border were evacuated and sent to safer places fearing flooding.

Govt. to roll out logistics policy soon

STAFF REPORTER VIJAYAWADA

Industries Minister Meka pati Goutham Reddy has. said that the State govern ment will unvell the Logis tics Policy-2021 soon.

At a review meeting on Tuesday, the Minister said that the government had taken cues from the logis tics models of Singapore while preparing the policy. Ease of Doing Business. (EoDB) would be at the crux of the new policy, he said.

The State Logistics Coor dination Committee (SLCC) headed by the Chief Secretary has already been formed. There are propo sals to set up an integrated command and control I centre. The capacity of non-major ports will be in creased by 70% by 2026.. Multimodal logistics parks will be built in 100 acres at Krishnapatnam and Kaki nada ports, he said.

Initiate steps to restore order, TDP urges DGP

STAFF REPORTER VIJAYAWADA

Accusing the YSRCP govern- ment of infringing the de- mocratic and constitutional rights of the elected repre- sentatives belonging to the Terlugu Desam Party, TDP I Polit Bureau member Varla Ramalah has urged Direc tor-General of Police (DGP) D. Gautam Sawang to In- itiate measures to restore or der.

In a letter to the DGP on Tuesday, Mr. Ramaiah al- leged that the TDP leaders. were being threatened and targeted.

TDP former MLA G.V. An- jeneyulu was served a not- Ice on Tuesday and placed

under house arrest to pre vent him from taking part in a protest against the impost tion of user charges for gar bage collection.

"Expressing dissent against anti-people's poli cles of the government is a democratic right. It appears that a section of police are competing to impress upon their political bosses by sup pressing the dissenting voic es across the State," Mr. Ra malah alleged in his letter.

Mr. Ramalah reminded the DGP that the latter had issued a statement on No vember 28, 2019 that prot est was a part of freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution.

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28/07/2021

M directs CollectorsOfficials to prepare districtwise action plan by AugustendStaff ReporterGUNTURExpressing displeasure overthe officials lagging behindin conducting field inspections of ward and village secretariats, Chief Minister Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy has instructed the CMO that theyare served memos. Chairing a review meetingon the ‘Spandana’ programme at his camp his onTuesday, Mr. Jagan MohanReddy said he was not happywith the reports on the fieldinspections.“I have instructed theCMO to issue memos tothose officers lagging in fieldinspections. How can we improve the efficiency of services delivered throughward and village secretariats? I want all the Collectors, Joint Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, ITDAProject Officers, SubCollectors to conduct timely inspections to improve the efficiency of the system.Collectors should inspectthe ward and village secretariats twice a week, whileJoint Collectors, MunicipalCommissioners, ITDA Project Officers, SubCollectorsshould do the same fourtimes a week,’’ said Mr. JaganMohan Reddy.The Chief Minister pointed out that only 733 inspections were conductedagainst the targetted 1,098 ,which is only 66.75%. “The Collectors and JointCollectors have achieved106% and 107% of the target,while the rest of the officialshave underperformed.Without fieldlevel supervision, the problems of villageand ward secretariats willnot be known. The performances of some officials isnot up to the mark and thisis not acceptable. The officials are the eyes and ears ofthe government. If they fail,it is my failure too. The mostimportant thing is that wework together as a team,”said Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy.“The officials must beavailable to the people from3p.m. to 5 p.m. to addressthe grievances,” he said.Social auditThe CM instructed authorities to check whether or notthe list for social audit of theDirect Benefit Transfer(DBT) schemes is displayed,prioritising the ration card,pension card, housing andAarogyasri schemes. “The welfare schemesmust reach all eligible beneficiaries within the stipulatedtime,” he added.CM irked at lax supervision of ward, village secretariatsStaff ReporterGUNTURChief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy chairing a reviewmeeting on the ‘Spandana’ programme on Tuesday.‘Serve memos on officialsdelaying fiel

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28/07/2021

Expressing displeasure overthe officials lagging behindin conducting field inspections of ward and village secretariats, Chief Minister Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy has instructed the CMO that theyare served memos. Chairing a review meetingon the ‘Spandana’ programme at his camp his onTuesday, Mr. Jagan MohanReddy said he was not happywith the reports on the fieldinspections.“I have instructed theCMO to issue memos tothose officers lagging in fieldinspections. How can we improve the efficiency of services delivered throughward and village secretariats? I want all the Collectors, Joint Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, ITDAProject Officers, SubCollectors to conduct timely inspections to improve the efficiency of the system.Collectors should inspectthe ward and village secretariats twice a week, whileJoint Collectors, MunicipalCommissioners, ITDA Project Officers, SubCollectorsshould do the same fourtimes a week,’’ said Mr. JaganMohan Reddy.The Chief Minister pointed out that only 733 inspections were conductedagainst the targetted 1,098 ,which is only 66.75%. “The Collectors and JointCollectors have achieved106% and 107% of the target,while the rest of the officialshave underperformed.Without fieldlevel supervision, the problems of villageand ward secretariats willnot be known. The performances of some officials isnot up to the mark and thisis not acceptable. The officials are the eyes and ears ofthe government. If they fail,it is my failure too. The mostimportant thing is that wework together as a team,”said Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy.“The officials must beavailable to the people from3p.m. to 5 p.m. to addressthe grievances,” he said.Social auditThe CM instructed authorities to check whether or notthe list for social audit of theDirect Benefit Transfer(DBT) schemes is displayed,prioritising the ration card,pension card, housing andAarogyasri schemes. “The welfare schemesmust reach all eligible beneficiaries within the stipulatedtime,” he added.

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28/07/2021

Kalam remembered onsixth death anniversaryCM, Naidu post tributes on Twitter

Tributes poured in from various political leaders, celebrities and public figures onthe sixth death anniversaryof former President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam on Tuesday.“One of the eminent luminaries of India, admiredaround the world! Humbletribute to Bharat RatnaA.P.J. Abdul Kalam, formerPresident of India, on hisdeath anniversary. His enormous contribution to thenation will be rememberedforever,” Chief Minister Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy said in atribute posted on Twitter.“Renowned for his accomplishments in the fieldof science and technologyand referred to as the Missile Man of India, Kalam endeared himself to the masses as the People’s Presidentthrough his simplicity, humility and his humanitarianoutlook. Tributes to the memory of that great man onthe occasion of his death anniversary,” Leader of theOpposition and TDP national president N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Twitter.Deputy Chief MinisterAmzath Basha said that India can never forget Kalam’sindelible contribution towards national development, be it as a scientist oras the President. His life isan inspiration for millions.

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28/07/2021

Officials told to overseekharif preparedness

Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked the officials to brace for the activemonsoon in the State andtake precautionary measures in the view of the incessant rains. He instructedthat NDRF and SDRF forcesshould be deployed in thetwin Godavari districts,which are enduring flood situation. Pointing out that eight districts have recorded excessrainfall this monsoon season, the Chief Minister askedthe Collectors to supervisethe kharif preparedness ofthe administration, prioritise ecropping and conducttimely inspections of theRythu Bharosa Kendras(RBKs).The authorities must payattention to ecropping, as itis a onestop solution for many welfare scheme such asinput subsidy, insurance andinterestfree loans. “Farmersmust be given receipt anddigital acknowledgementcarrying the signatures ofboth farmer and AgricultureAssistant duly listing out allecrop details. “The government is committed to payingfarmers within 21 days ofpurchase of farm producesand clearing the arrears,” hesaid. Agriculture AdvisoryCouncil“The Agriculture AdvisoryCouncils must meet on thefirst Friday of every monthat the RBK level, the secondFriday of each month at thezonal level and the third Friday of each month at the district level. These meetingswill help implement cropplans,” he said and asked theofficials to provide qualityseeds, fertilizers and pesticides to farmers throughRBKs and to keep a check onblack marketing and spurious seeds.He asked the officials toprovide loans to tenantfarmers. The officials havealso been told to finish theconstruction of 10,929 village secretariats, 8,585 YSRVillage Clinics by September30, 534 YSR Urban Clinics byNovember 15, and start theworks of digital libraries byAugust 15.Housing schemeMr. Jagan Mohan Reddy saidthat more than 30 lakh houses were distributed in thefirst phase, while 3,69,448beneficiaries did not get itdue to court cases . Nearly3.18 lakh people have optedfor houses to be built by thegovernment, and for this, agroup of 20 should beformed and local masons assigned. Groups should beformed by August 10.

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