logo
Officials told to intensify focus on Prakasam development

Officials told to intensify focus on Prakasam development

Hans India02-05-2025
Ongole: At a review meeting held at the Collectorate in Ongole on Thursday, Special Chief Secretary of Medical, Health, and Family Welfare Department and Zonal in-charge officer, Dr MT Krishna Babu, urged all departments to intensify their focus on developing Prakasam district in accordance with Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu's vision.
The high-level meeting, attended by officials from various departments, examined the implementation status of development and welfare schemes across the district.
District Collector A Thameem Ansariya and Joint Collector Ronanki Gopala Krishna delivered detailed presentations on the progress achieved by different departments. Key issues discussed during the meeting included verification of social and disability pensions, Deepam-2 initiative, solar electricity, safe drinking water supply, including the challenges during summer, P-4 implementation, re-open cases for land disputes, audits, pilot projects for Reserve-Feed-2, housing schemes, and livelihood programmes.
Speaking at the meeting, Krishna Babu emphasised the importance of not only ensuring uninterrupted water supply during summer months but also maintaining water quality. He suggested identifying economically stable individuals who have completed higher education through school teachers, recognising them as 'role models' who could support 'Bangaru Kutumbams' in their communities.
He assured officials that pending bills for works undertaken under the 'Pallepanduga' programme would be released by the government. He referenced the Chief Minister's recent conference, where the District Collector had set a target of achieving 15 percent GDP growth for the district, directing all departments to work toward this goal. He advised officials to identify strengths and weaknesses to develop appropriate strategies for achieving targets, and called for coordinated efforts between public representatives and officials to boost the district's economic development.
In the morning, Krishnababu, Collector Thameem Ansariya, and MLA BN Vijay Kumar distributed pensions to the beneficiaries at Kothakota of NG Padu mandal. The zonal in-charge visited the Industrial Growth Centre in Maddipadu, inspected Gundlakamma Reservoir, the local PHC, etc, and interacted with the locals, officials and inquired about the facilities.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Who Gets ‘No Tax on Overtime'? It's Messy.
Who Gets ‘No Tax on Overtime'? It's Messy.

Hindustan Times

time21 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Who Gets ‘No Tax on Overtime'? It's Messy.

WASHINGTON—President Trump's popular 'no tax on overtime' policy will help millions of workers save an estimated $90 billion through 2028, but the law is full of fine print and potential confusion over who is eligible for the new savings. Under the law, the only overtime compensation that qualifies for the new deduction is the extra wages—the 'half' of 'time and a half' pay—required under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA. That definition excludes overtime paid to airline employees, railroad workers and other transportation laborers covered by separate overtime laws. It doesn't include some payments under agreements outside FLSA or workers specifically exempted from FLSA. And it excludes payments required under state laws like California's, where overtime starts after eight hours daily instead of 40 hours weekly. The upshot: The break will cut taxes by thousands of dollars for many overtime workers, but some might not necessarily get the tax break, and figuring out who qualifies could be tricky. 'There's a big gap between that assumption by many hopeful people and what actually we think is going to happen,' said Mary Hevener, an attorney at Morgan Lewis who advises employers. 'A lot of the overtime that people are receiving is not going to be subject to this tax benefit.' Employers, tax lawyers and payroll professionals are wrapping their arms around the deduction, which Trump signed into law July 4 in the 'one big, beautiful bill.' Like new tax breaks for tipped workers and senior citizens, 'no tax on overtime' is retroactive to the beginning of 2025. The overtime-pay deduction is capped at $12,500 for individuals and $25,000 for married couples. That could lower some households' tax bills by $6,000, and it is available whether or not taxpayers itemize deductions. The break starts shrinking once income reaches $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for married couples. Because it is an income-tax deduction, workers still owe payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare on overtime pay. Lawmakers tied the tax break to the FLSA overtime definition because that was a known federal standard that could be implemented and because they wanted to limit revenue consequences, according to people familiar with the decision. The Treasury Department expects to issue guidance to help workers and employers report and claim the deduction. For 2025, the government isn't planning to change Form W-2, which reports earnings to workers and the Internal Revenue Service. Instead, as employers update systems, workers will likely rely on separate payroll statements to claim the deduction on tax returns in early 2026. The Treasury Department is considering providing relief from certain penalties during this first year. The government may also issue guidance about overtime definitions and adjusting paycheck withholding. 'Treasury began working with businesses and payroll providers three months ago—well before the bill's passage—to ensure that the president's no-tax-on-overtime commitment is implemented as seamlessly as possible for employers and delivers the full tax relief hardworking Americans were promised,' Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender said in a statement. Railroad workers are another group whose overtime pay won't qualify for the tax deduction. Early frustrations The deduction's limits are already frustrating airline and railroad workers, who often get overtime pay under union contracts and are exempt from FLSA because they are covered by the Railway Labor Act. One result is different treatment for similar jobs. An airline jet mechanic wouldn't get the deduction but an airplane mechanic at a separate maintenance company could. 'It's a legislative blunder and a political blunder,' said John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union, who said he thought the language was unintentional. 'This will become a huge political issue, particularly for the Republicans, if it's not fixed.' An earlier no-tax-on-overtime bill from Sen. Roger Marshall (R., Kan.) contained a more expansive definition. The American Association of Railroads is urging Congress to change the final language. Chris Comeau, a TWU member in Massachusetts, works 20 to 30 hours of overtime most weeks cleaning commuter trains and was hoping the break could save him thousands of dollars. Comeau said he supported Trump and the no-tax-on-overtime idea but was disappointed that rail workers won't qualify. 'You don't get more middle class than guys that are fixing trains and riding on trains and cleaners,' he said. Employers will ultimately track two different numbers: overtime they pay and overtime qualifying for the deduction, said Curtis Tatum, senior director of legal and compliance at PayrollOrg, an association of payroll professionals. 'It's going to be a big learning curve,' he said. Employers responsible for implementing the deduction don't get direct benefits, said Steven Johnson of Morgan Lewis. They may have to explain to employees the differences between overtime amounts on pay stubs and tax forms. Workers who do benefit and don't try to adjust paycheck withholding now will likely see the deduction increase tax refunds in early 2026. Campaign promise now reality Trump pitched 'no tax on overtime' during his campaign with other tax-cut promises. Republicans layered them atop extensions of expiring tax cuts. Trump's new policies are more popular with voters than the law as a whole. In a recent Wall Street Journal poll, 72% of respondents favored the overtime deduction; support was higher among people making between $20,000 and $80,000. At a recent House Ways and Means Committee hearing in Las Vegas, paint foreman Eric Byington praised the idea. 'When you want to hustle, work overtime, that money goes straight into your pocket,' he said. 'These tax breaks are immense for the regular working people.' The benefit could spur disputes between employees and employers. The new advantage for employees covered by FLSA puts more pressure on distinctions between independent contractors and employees, and between workers who qualify for FLSA overtime and those who are exempt. 'There's massive, constant litigation over this issue, whether a person should be exempt or not,' said Thomas Cryan, an attorney at Saul Ewing. 'There's going to be lots of gray areas.' Write to Richard Rubin at

Terrorism was never saffron and will never be: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis
Terrorism was never saffron and will never be: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Terrorism was never saffron and will never be: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said "terrorism was never saffron and will never be". He was reacting to the verdict of a special NIA court in Mumbai which acquitted all the seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Digital Marketing Operations Management Product Management healthcare others Technology Degree Leadership Design Thinking CXO Data Science Data Science Data Analytics Cybersecurity Finance Healthcare MBA Project Management MCA PGDM Management Others Artificial Intelligence Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details An explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in the town, located about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008 killing six persons and injuring 101 others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Only 2% Traders Know this Powerful Intraday Strategy thefutureuniversity Learn More Undo The special court on acquitted all the seven accused in the case, noting there was "no reliable and cogent evidence" against them. "Terrorism was never saffron, is not and will never be," Fadnavis posted on X. Live Events Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde refused to comment on the verdict. Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde said his party welcomes the NIA court judgement acquitting all the seven accused, including Thakur and Purohit. "We are very happy with the order. It was the sinister design of the Congress party which trapped them and also coined the word 'Hindu terror' to fulfill their agenda. They have been exposed," Hegde claimed. Hegde said Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Parliament that no Hindu can be a terrorist and it has been proved right. Maharashtra Water Resources Minister and BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil hailed the verdict and said Hindutva was labelled as "terrorist" and sentiments were hurt. There was an attempt to hurt spiritualism, he claimed.

Jagdeep Dhankhar sought bulletproof vehicles from MHA, but picked Innova months before quitting. Here's why
Jagdeep Dhankhar sought bulletproof vehicles from MHA, but picked Innova months before quitting. Here's why

Mint

time7 hours ago

  • Mint

Jagdeep Dhankhar sought bulletproof vehicles from MHA, but picked Innova months before quitting. Here's why

The Vice President's Secretariat had sought new bulletproof vehicles for then V-P Jagdeep Dhankhar, citing the age of his three high-security BMW cars, in February 2024, according to a report In June, the Ministry of Home Affairs had informed about a panel to be formed to look into the request. But by November, 2024 the former V-P's office decided to opt for a non-bulletproof Innova, instead, the report in Indian Express said. The Indian Express report quotes a February 28, 2024 letter sent from the V-P's Secretariat to the Additional Secretary (Police Modernisation Division), MHA, regarding the condition of his official vehicles. The then deputy secretary in the V-P's Secretariat wrote in the letter that two of the three bulletproof BMW High Security vehicles have been provided to the Hon'ble Vice President of India for day-to-day movement have become more than six years old. The third one, the letter said, is almost four years and five months old and 'will also become more than five years old in the next couple of months.' 'It has been further directed to get all three vehicles replaced with bulletproof high-security new vehicles. It is requested to get the process of replacement of three vehicles initiated at the earliest,' the letter quoted by Indian Express reads A similar letter had been sent to the security division of Delhi Police, which clarified that procurement of vehicles is handled by the MHA, according to sources. The Vice-President gets Z-plus security cover provided by Delhi Police. The under-secretary in the MHA wrote to the V-P's Secretariat on June 12, 2024 informing about a board of officers to be formed to inspect the three vehicles in question. On November 28, however, an internal communication issued by Delhi Police said the V-P's Secretariat had changed Dhankhar's bulletproof vehicles since their 'life term of five years' was over. The new vehicle was an Innova, while the spare vehicle was a Fortuner, and neither was bulletproof, the communication read. The OSD and Secretary to the Vice President were informed that these vehicles are not bulletproof and if required, such vehicles could be sought from Delhi Police, but this was turned down, according to the report quoting sources. Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down as Vice President of India citing health reasons on July 21. The life term of five years was over for the vehicles, prompting a switch to non-bulletproof options. The Congress party-led Opposition, however, has dismissed the explanation of medical issues behind the 74-year-old's abrupt move, claiming instead that 'far deeper reasons' are at play. The resignation came on the first day of Monsoon Session of Parliament. Dhankhar had an action-packed day at the House of Elders, as the Rajya Sabha is called, before tendering resignation.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store