The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet met today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Chandrababu. Several key decisions were approved during this meeting, including a new liquor policy that received the Cabinet’s green signal. The government has decided to ensure the availability of quality brands of liquor at prices below Rs 100. The Cabinet also approved private liquor stores.
Additionally, the Cabinet decided to rename the Bhogapuram airport to Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport. Chief Minister Chandrababu reportedly had extensive discussions with ministers about the volunteer system established by the previous government, with a final decision on the matter expected in the next Cabinet meeting.
In response to the recent heavy rains that caused flooding in several districts of Andhra Pradesh, the Cabinet made significant decisions to support flood victims. A flood relief package was approved to provide compensation to those affected. It was announced that families in Vijayawada whose first-floor homes were flooded would receive ₹10,000 in financial aid. Similarly, families in other areas affected by floods will also receive ₹10,000 each. CM Chandrababu stated that the assistance amount has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000.
The government will provide Rs 25,000 for every hectare of land affected by various crops, including ₹10,000 per acre for cotton, groundnuts, and sugarcane, and ₹15,000 for maize and soybean. The Cabinet approved this decision today.
Furthermore, the Cabinet decided that compensation for crop losses should be given directly to tenant farmers and passed a resolution requesting the central government to provide 33% reservation for backward classes in legislative bodies.
The Cabinet discussed the possibility of giving gifts to women in time for the upcoming Diwali festival. Suggestions included providing free cooking gas or offering free bus travel for women. It seems that a majority of ministers favored the idea of providing three free gas cylinders per year.