Hyderabad: The State Cabinet would meet again in few days to pass a resolution to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly and thus pave way for the much talked about early elections in Telangana along with four other states in the country in December.
Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, while briefing media about the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on Sunday at Pragati Bhavan, said that the State Cabinet would meet again when important decisions would be taken. This he stated to queries from the media about any decision on advancing the polls in the state. We are briefing today only about the decisions taken as per the agenda regarding various welfare measures, he said and added that the state cabinet would meet again soon.
If one reads between the lines the announcement of the Deputy Chief Minister, it could be construed that a decision to dissolve the State Assembly would be finalized at the ensuing cabinet meet, likely to be held on September 6.
Contrary to all expectations that today’s cabinet meet would pass a resolution for dissolution of the Assembly, the agenda seemed to have been basically to decide welfare measures, especially to woo certain sections like the Backward Classes, contract and private employees working in the Medical and Health Department, Archakas etc.
Though it was expected that the Chief Minister himself would brief the media about the cabinet decisions, to every ones surprise it was Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, Finance Minister Eetela Rajendra and Irrigation Minister Harish Rao addressed the media and revealed the cabinet decisions taken today.
According to the ministers the cabinet has decided to allocate 75 acres of land in Hyderabad for constructing the BC Atmagaurava Bhavan for which a amount of Rs.70 crores has been earmarked. The cabinet also decided to allot another 5 acres of land in the city for the Reddy hostel.
Taking into view the plight of Gopala Mitras who have been rendering their services with a paltry sum of Rs.3500, the cabinet decided to raise their honorarium to Rs.8500 per month. Hitherto the retirement age of Archakas in the state was 58 years but now it was decided by the cabinet to raise the retirement age to 65 years.
Another decision taken at today’s cabinet meet was with regard to the hike the wages of Staff nurses, secondary ANMs and technicians working in the Medial and Health Department. Accordingly the wages of Asha workers numbering about 25,400, has been hiked from the present Rs.6000 to Rs.7500. The wages of contract doctors has also been raised from the present Rs.36,000 to Rs.40,000. (NSS).
