Latest news with #G.O
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh government is planning to increase house tax in urban areas, says CPI(M)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has stated that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has imposed a burden of ₹784 crore by increasing house taxes in urban areas. Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the CPI(M) State secretariat member Ch. Babu Rao said that the municipal authorities have launched surveys in 123 towns and cities across the State, covering 40.22 lakh households and other buildings. This survey aims at a 20% house tax hike, amounting to ₹464 crore. From April this year, a 15% increase in house tax (₹320 crore) has already been implemented. In total, the government has given strict directives to increase house tax by 35%, which is ₹784 crore, this year. It wouldn't be surprising if this tax hike reaches ₹1,500 crore, he said. Mr. Babu Rao said on May 14, the Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana had issued a memo instructing the Municipal Commissioners to complete the survey and increase taxes. By June 15, within one month, surveys must be conducted for every house in the State's urban areas, measurements taken, and taxes increased. Earlier, under the Central government directives, the previous YSRCP government changed the tax policy from rent-based assessment to property value-based taxation and introduced a new law via G.O. 198. Following public protests, the government had claimed it would limit hikes to 15% per year. Despite appeals to revoke the property value-based tax method, the past government had stubbornly refused to do so. Over the last five years, house tax has increased by 80%, from ₹1,188 crore to ₹2,137 crore, he said. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the alliance parties promised during elections and in their manifestos to review this policy and not impose heavy tax burdens. But the alliance government has broken its promise and betrayed public trust. Without even informing the people, the government increased house taxes by 15% from April and started collecting the dues without seeking public objections. In Vijayawada alone, house taxes will go up by ₹40 crore and in Visakhapatnam by ₹112 crore, he said. During the upcoming Mahanadu in Kadapa, TDP leaders and public representatives must discuss house tax and electricity burdens, listen to people's grievances, uphold their promises, and revoke these burdens. 'Otherwise, we will unite various civil and people's organisations across the State to launch protests and hold the government accountable,' he added.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- The Hindu
Human Rights Forum urges Andhra Pradesh Government to compensate deceased farmer
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV) and BC Welfare Association (BCWA) have called upon the State Government to implement G.O. (MS) No.43 that provides financial assistance of ₹7,00,000 to the family of Balleda Narasimha Murthy (58), a farmer of Peddhakhojiria village in Kanchili mandal in the Uddhanam region of Srikakulam district. Narasimha Murthy ended his life on April 9, 2025, as pressure mounted on him to repay the debts he incurred because of successive crop failure. A six-member HRF-RSV and BCWA team visited Peddhakojiria in Kanchili mandal recently and interacted with Ms. Neelaveni, wife of the deceased farmer, and their son Praveen. The team also interacted with local farmers and residents of Makarampuram village about the ongoing agrarian crisis in the Uddhanam region. According to HRF, Narasimha Murthy cultivated cashew and coconut on an acre of his own land and leased an additional eight acres. He paid the lease amount in advance. The HRF said 'Narasimha Murthy was denied adequate institutional credit, forced to borrow from private sources at high interest rates to cover farm-related expenses.' 'With several years of scanty rainfall coupled with his coconut crop being ravaged by pest, he was pushed into deep debt. He was under regular and persistent pressure from money-lenders demanding repayment. Driven to utter despair, he ended his life on April 9,' the HRF said. The HRF alleged that, though more than five weeks have passed since Narasimha Murthy passed away, the three-member divisional verification committee headed by the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) has not visited Peddha khojiria to conduct an inquiry. 'The G.O. 43 mandates that the RDO-led committee visit the village, elicit relevant details and forward proposal to the Collector within a week of the death. In effect, the family has received no assistance, financial or otherwise, from the government. This manner of negligence defeats the very purpose of G.O. 43,' the HRF said. 'Over the past year, there have been five deaths (of farmers) in the North Andhra districts, including that of Narasimha Murthy. However, not a single family has been rendered assistance under G.O 43,' the HRF said. The HRF demanded that the three-member divisional level committee visit Peddha khojiria at the earliest, conduct a proper inquiry and ensure justice to Narasimha Murthy's family as laid out in G.O. 43. The fact-finding team that visited Narasimha Murthy's family include RSV State co-convenor, K.V. Jagannadha Rao, HRF State president K. Anuradha, HRF Publications editor, K. Venkat Rao, HRF Srikakulam district Executive Committee (EC) member. V.S. Krishna, HRF Andhra Pradesh & Telangana Coordination Committee member and B. Dhilli Rao, BCWA State general secretary. (People battling suicidal thoughts can seek assistance for counselling by dialling number 100.)
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Corporation employees seek changes in order reducing workforce
Trichy: Federation of Tamil Nadu All Corporation Employees Association on Saturday sought the revision of a govt order that they said would result in cutting jobs in municipal corporations . At a consultation meeting held in Trichy, members of the federation said that the G.O. 152 is detrimental to the job security of the corporation workers, and the exclusion of certain workers as per the new order may impact the civic services . The federation said the order removed some jobs including driver, record clerk, revenue assistant, office assistant, and urban health nurse. Stating that the municipal corporations in the state function under the provisions of Tamil Nadu Municipal Corporations Service Rules 1996, it said there is a lack of clarity on the new order. Members also expressed their concern over the new order refusing promotions for corporation employees for five years. "The govt should pay heed to the concerns of corporation workers. Unions can be consulted before making any changes," M Damodaran, president of the federation (Trichy corporation), said. As the process for new recruitments are being planned as per the new order, the federation sought relaxations for present employees in appearing in the exams to obtain promotions. It also urged the state govt to pass an order to provide benefits by treating corporation and municipality employees on par with govt employees.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
A.P. teachers to continue protest against G.O. on school restructuring
Teacher organisations in Andhra Pradesh have voiced strong opposition to the proposed school restructuring program, expressing concerns that it will harm the education sector. They plan protests, including State-level demonstrations, to highlight their concerns. Raising concern over 'categorisation of schools and the potential negative impact on students and teachers,' leaders of the Andhra Pradesh Teachers' Federation (APTF) have announced their decision to continue their protests in a phased manner. On May 5, they held mandal-level protests, on May 9 at district-level and on May 14, at the State level. Opposing what they called irrational policies being implemented in government schools, they said instead of revising the incoherent decisions taken by the previous government, the TDP-led coalition government, through G.O. 21, proposed to set up nine categories of schools, which may dismantle public education system. The federation leaders said on May 16 and 17, teachers across the State would send messages via WhatsApp and Email to the Minister for Human Resource Development Nara Lokesh demanding reversal of the decision to protect the education sector. On May 18, 19 and 20, they would submit memoranda to the elected representatives, from village sarpanches to the Members of Parliament, including School Education Committee Chairpersons, Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad members, seeking their immediate intervention. Pointing out that no other State in the country had nine categories of schools, the leaders demanded that the government revert to the old system that existed before the issue of G.O. 117 by the previous YSR Congress Party government. Leaders of the State committee of the Student Federation of India (SFI) have also condemned the decision, insisting that the government reconsider its stand. In a statement on Thursday, the federation's State president K. Prasanna Kumar and general secretary A. Ashok said G.O. 117 issued by the YSRCP government on division of schools in six categories evoked stiff resistance by the stakeholders. The current government repealed that G.O. and instead, issued a fresh one as an alternative, categorising schools in nine categories. They said the proposed restructuring would cause serious harm to the school education system and would facilitate privatisation of the education sector.
Hans India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Talks with tribal associations successful, bandh called off
Paderu (ASR District): Negotiations between ASR district collector AS Dinesh Kumar and various tribal associations demanding the implementation of G.O. Ms. No. 3 concluded successfully on Saturday. The tribal groups, who had been on strike for the past 24 hours demanding that vacancies in tribal areas be filled exclusively with tribal candidates, agreed to call off their bandh following two rounds of discussions held at the District Collectorate. The collector clarified that the Supreme Court had declared G.O. Ms. No. 3 as unconstitutional, necessitating a review and revision of the recruitment policies in agency areas post-verdict. He explained that the state government is currently reevaluating ways to ensure justice for tribal communities without violating the legal directives of the apex court. Referring to the recently announced Mega DSC-2025 for teacher recruitment, the Collector stated that reservations were allotted based on the general roster system due to the legal constraints following the Supreme Court judgment. He assured that the government is actively exploring alternate legal avenues to uphold the spirit of G.O. 3 and provide fair opportunities for tribal candidates in agency regions. District in-charge Minister Gummadi Sandhyarani had also reiterated the government's commitment to tribal welfare in a recent ITDA general body meeting and through a public video statement, he said. Additionally, Tribal Welfare Department Secretary MM Naik, currently touring Rampachodavaram, promised to take up the matter with the government and provide clarity within three to four days, the Collector added. In light of the inconvenience caused to the general public, including small traders and the middle class, due to the bandh, the Collector appealed for its withdrawal. The tribal association leaders agreed, marking an end to the protest.
