Cine Actor Chiranjeevi with Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka

KTR writes to Union IT Minister on ITIR

Hyderabad: IT Minister KT Rama Rao has yet again appealed to Union IT and Electronics Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to consider providing Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project or a scheme or an initiative similar to (ITIR) for Hyderabad.
In a letter to the Union Minister on Sunday, Rama Rao said, “Since it is now clear that the Union Government is not inclined to continue the ITIR scheme, a scheme or initiative in its place should be considered for cities like Hyderabad to continue flourishing and provide employment to youngsters.”
Hyderabad is one of those few cities, which serve as economic engines and contribute immensely to the country’s economy. It is therefore important that such cities should be rewarded by way of new policy initiatives and incentives, he said.
The youth of Telangana are eagerly waiting for new employment opportunities that could be created with the support of the Union Government in the IT Sector, he said adding “I make an earnest appeal on their behalf to use your good offices to announce an initiative on the lines of ITIR.”
Despite the corona pandemic, Telangana has come up with some promising news. Latest estimates indicate that the IT exports from Telangana are expected to grow over 7 percent to touch Rs 1.4 lakh crore (about $19.1 billion) for the financial year 2020-21. The national growth rate in the said period, according to NASSCOM, is estimated to be at about 1.9 percent at $150 billion.
Hyderabad saw a healthy 8.7 million sft of new office space creation during the year. In terms of the share of sectoral occupiers, the information technology (IT/ITeS) sector including data centers dominated with a major share, followed by banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) and manufacturing sectors, while other services and co-working sectors also contributed. “
We could attract several marquee companies such as Amazon Web Services, Goldman Sachs, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to Telangana during the past one year,” the Minister said.
The Telangana government has been aggressively encouraging emerging technologies like AI, Data Analytics, IoT, cybersecurity, Digital entertainment technologies (Animation, Gaming, VFX), Blockchain, Drones, etc. In addition to this, the proactive role of the State Government in encouraging product development, R&D, and skill development in these areas has encouraged many global and domestic IT companies to bring their technology development centers to Hyderabad, he pointed out.
“The ongoing pandemic has had a severe impact on several sectors across the globe, but the technology industry in Hyderabad faced minimum disruption in conducting its activities. This was achieved by a proactive partnership between the State Government and the industry,” Rama Rao said.
Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on multiple occasions, both personally and through official letters, to provide assistance to the ITIR project. “As the IT Minister for the State, I had also met you and requested you to release funds for the ITIR project,” KT Rama Rao reminded the Union Minister.
“Unfortunately there was no response from the Union Government on this important initiative. Valuable time was lost as the Telangana Government was pursuing the ITIR Project without any response from the Union Government,” he pointed out.

Congress Leaders Detained Ahead Of March In UP Against BJP’s Chinmayanand

The 23-year-old law student in Shahjahanpur was arrested by the police last week in a case of extortion filed by Chinmayanand’s aides.

SHAHJAHANPUR: Congress leaders were today refused permission to take out a march in support of the jailed law student who has accused the BJP’s Chinmayanand of rape.The Congress leaders wanted to march from the town of Shahjahanpur to Lucknow in solidarity with the student.
Party leader Jitin Prasada has been put under house arrest and three others have been detained. The police have also blocked the borders of Shahjahanpur district.

The 23-year-old student was arrested by the police last week in a case of extortion filed by Chinmayanand’s aides. The law student has spent the last four days in prison.

The woman says the police refused to register her rape complaint last month, after which she filed a case in Delhi. Chinmayanand has been charged under a watered down sub-section of the rape law on “misusing authority for sexual intercourse”. On the other hand, the woman has been charged with trying to extort Rs. 5 crore from Chinmayanand. The SIT said she had “confessed”.

The student was produced before a court, which sent her to 14-day judicial custody.

Chinmayanand, who was arrested earlier this month on charges that he misused his authority and induced the student to have sex with him, continues to be in a hospital. He was taken to the ICU at Lucknow’s Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences last Monday, just three days after his arrest.

A court in Shahjahanpur will today hear the bail requests of Chinmayanand as well as the student.

A Congress delegation met the parents of the jailed student on Sunday.The girl who alleged rape and was arrested should be released. The government is standing in support of Chinmayanand. The rape case should be heard in a fast track court,” Congress leader Ajay Kumar Lallu, who is among those who have been detained today, had told news agency ANI.

PM Modi Receives International Award For ‘Swachh Bharat’ Campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission in October 2014 as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary

HIGHLIGHTS

PM Modi received Goalkeepers Global Award for Swachh Bharat programme
Microsoft founder Bill Gates presented the award to PM Modi at a ceremony
“Gandhiji’s dream for cleanliness is now becoming true,” PM Modi said

pm modi receives international award for 'swachh bharat' campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today received the Goalkeepers Global Goals Award for his government’s Swachh Bharat programme. Microsoft founder Bill Gates presented the award to PM Modi at a ceremony on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York City.
Started by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Goalkeepers award seeks to “bring together leaders from around the world to accelerate progress for ending poverty and fighting inequality”, according to the organisers.

“Gandhi ji’s dream for swachhata (cleanliness) is now becoming true,” PM Modi said. “The World Health Organisation has reported that three lakh people have been saved (from diseases) by the campaign… Such as campaign was never heard of,” he said. “Getting the award in the year of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary is personally significant for me. When 130 crore people take a pledge, any challenge can be overcome,” he said.

PM Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission in October 2014 as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. It seeks to improve cleanliness through solid and liquid waste management and making villages open-defecation free.

“Due to lack of toilets, a number of girls had to drop out of schools. Our daughters want to study, but because of lack of toilets, they had to abandon their education midway and sit at home,” he added. “The Swachh Bharat programme has changed this.”

india had only seen constitutional federalism for decades. Our government made an effort to change it to cooperative federalism and with time we are moving towards competitive-cooperative federalism. I am happy that through Swachh Survekshan (cleanliness survey), India’s states now compete with each other for higher ranking in cleanliness,” the Prime Minister said.

The Swachh Bharat campaign is the world’s largest behavioural change programme. “Behaviour change has been the key differentiator of Swachh Bharat Mission and therefore emphasis is placed on behaviour change communication,” the government says on the Swachh Bharat website.

The inaugural Goalkeepers event in 2017 hosted a diverse group of leaders. Speakers, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former US President Barack Obama and activist Malala Yousafzai had attended it.

Centre’s recent tax sops to cut TS budget by about ₹1,400 cr

Borrowings by Telangana well within prescribed limits says, Harish Rao
Finance Minister T. Harish Rao told the Legislative Council on Sunday that there would be further cut of about ₹1,400 crores in the devolution of Central funds to the State following the latest reduction in Corporate Tax announced by Union Finance Minister.

During his reply to the debate on the Appropriation Bill, he explained that reduction in taxes would reduce the Centre’s revenue by about ₹1.45 lakh crore for 2019-20. As the Centre would devolve 42% of its revenue to States and as Telangana would get 2.47% of the total devolution, it would translate into about ₹1,400 crores.

As the Centre’s announcement had come after the State’s budget presentation, it would have a proportional impact on the State’s budget estimates too, Mr. Harish Rao said while responding to a plea by MIM member Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri for allocation of funds for Constituency Development Programme fund as no allocation was made this year. The Finance Minister said the provision of ₹100 crores made was to clear the works already sanctioned by the legislators.

No CDP funds
The government would, however, consider releasing more funds if there was any turnaround in the economic slowdown being experienced across the country, Mr. Harish Rao said adding that no fresh sanctions would be given for CDP works this year.

On Congress member T. Jeevan Reddy’s observation of increasing debt, Mr. Harish Rao said the borrowings were well within the limits prescribed by the Finance Commission guidelines and Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management norms. The total borrowings of Telangana stood at 20.04% of the GSDP against the limit up to 25% but about 15 other progressive States had higher borrowings with Punjab’s debt standing at 42% of its GSDP in the first place and Gujarat at 21% of its GSDP above Telangana.

He explained that at the time of Telangana formation, the debt share of the State was ₹75,577 crore and they had borrowed ₹1,57,351 crore more during the last five years. However, they have repaid ₹29,198 crores and which meant that the net borrowing was only ₹1,28,153 crore in addition to security (guarantee) given by the government for borrowings by special purpose vehicles and corporations. Further, he stated that all the loans were being used for capital expenditure.

The Minister also stated that Kaleshwaram water would be taken to Suryapet district this year itself from Lower Manair Dam to fill tanks. Members M.S. Prabhakar Rao, B. Venkateshwarlu and K. Damodar Reddy (all TRS), N. Ramchander Rao (BJP) and A. Narsi Reddy (Independent) also spoke as part of the debate.

Aarogyasri will be applicable for AP people living in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai

Amaravati: AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has given a special focus on Aarogyasri scheme which was introduced by late CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Before the 2019 general elections, CM YS Jagan has announced that Aarogyasri would be applicable for the hospital cost exceeding Rs 1,000. This decision will come into effect from April next year.

CM, who made major changes in the scheme, said that 150 super-specialty hospitals in Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai would provide health services under Aarogyasri scheme starting from November 1. It’s said that as super specialty hospitals are few in AP, CM YS Jagan has taken this decision to provide better treatment to the poor of the state.

The previous TDP government has limited this health service only to AP. The hospitals in cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai were removed from the Aarogyasri scheme. This caused trouble for AP people who are living in these three cities to get treatment. CM YS Jagan said that the patients who are operated under the scheme would be paid Rs 225 per day till they recover and Rs 5,000 per month for the patients suffering from chronic diseases

From January 1 next year, the Aarogyasri scheme with new proposals will be implemented as a pilot project in the West Godavari district. Nearly 2,000 diseases are covered under new Aarogyasri scheme. After the pilot project, this scheme will be implemented in all districts by April 1, 2020. New Aarogyasri cards will be issued from December 21st.

Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan Draws Report on Jagan Govt’s Failures in First 100 Days

Amaravati: Jana Sena party president Pawan Kalyan on Saturday attacked the Andhra Pradesh government, alleging several failures of Jaganmohan Reddy’s 100-day rule.

Kalyan drew a 33-page report, which accused the government of ruling the state without proper planning in the first 100 days since the present government came to power.

The Jana Sena party chief alleged that the government had failed to implement sand policy, and had done nothing to attract investment. Moreover, he said that the Polavaram national irrigation project, touted to be the largest irrigation facility once completed, stands unfinished. Development of the state capital Amaravati was far from satisfactory and the health sector neglected, Kalyan added.

jana sena chief pawan kalyan draws report on jagan govt's failures in first 100 days

The actor-turned-politician targeted the government’s ambiguity over the development of Amaravati, saying, “The government has failed to grow confidence in the local farmers who gave their lands for the development of the capital. The issue of Amaravati is not of 23,000 acres, but the farmers who gave their land.” He further questioned the state government’s expenditure of Rs 800 crore that had already been invested in developing Amaravati.

He also took issue with the Jagan government’s approach towards the prohibition of liquor. On the one hand, the government had discouraged income through liquor sales, while the latest reports show that beer sales have shot up by 13 percent.

In his series of complaints, Kalyan also mentioned that more than 20 lakh people had lost their livelihoods due to the delay in implementing the sand policy.

He attacked the ruling party, saying that it had no transparency or vision. The YSRCP’s Navaratnalus, nine large-scale welfare programs, he said were people-friendly, although the administration itself was not.

“The government had conducted an Investment Conclave, but its policies threatened local industrialists. How will investments come in this situation,” he said.

He also took pot-shots at the initiative of establishing village secretariats through volunteers. “These volunteers have been employed as poll agents of the YSRCP for political gains in the next elections,” Kalyan alleged.

The current revenue deficit in Andhra was incapable of ensuring the influx of Rs 50,000 crore for carrying out the provisions of the YSR Congress’ poll manifesto, he pointed out.

The Jana Sena chief also said that the government had failed to control the law and order situation, that schools were not equipped with adequate infrastructure, and that seasonal diseases were not under control.

The chief minister’s dashboard does not carry any information about the finance ministry; the government’s cancellation of power purchase agreements (PPAs) despite the Centre’s objections; the confusion over the future of Amaravati as state capital were among other shortcomings of the state government, according to Pawan Kalyan.

Former speaker Kodela Siva Prasad attempts suicide in Hyderabad

Former AP speaker Kodela Siva Prasad has attempted suicide at his residence here in the city on Monday.

HIGHLIGHTS Kodela Siva Prasad attempts suicide after being harassed by YSRCP About 15 cases have been filed against him and his children

former speaker kodela siva prasad attempts suicide in hyderabad

The family members of him foiled his attempt and admitted him to Basavatarakam Hospital at Jubilee Hills. It is learned that Siva Prasad went to his room upstairs after having breakfast. As he did not come down, his family members went up and noticed him attempting suicide.

They alleged that Siva Prasad was depressed over the cases being foisted against his family members by the YSRCP. It is said that about 15 cases have been filed against him and his children.

Though he got bail in all cases he felt humiliated that his prestige as a doctor and political leader has been tarnished badly, they added.