Andhra approves host of policies for employment, agrarian crisis

The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday held a state cabinet meeting and approved a slew of policies. It also took decisions on various projects to generate employment and tackle the agrarian crisis.

In the meeting, the state cabinet approved the State Mega Seed Park Policy 2018, aiming to make the state as seed capital and to enable the setting up of seed industries in the state. The seed park would be set up at Tangadencha village in Kurnool district.

Through this park, the government expects to attract Rs 3,000 crore investments and create 40,000 jobs by 2023. The government would encourage farmers for seed production, help them set up Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) units, allot land, and give subsidies available for industries.

It further approved textile, apparel, and garments policy 2018-2023, which aims to attract Rs 15,000 crore investments and generate employment for 2.5 lakh people. The state government would also give various subsidies on the same.

During the meeting, the state cabinet also decided to replace Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) with Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA).

The cabinet also decided to set up nine private polytechnic colleges associated to Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati and 11 private polytechnic colleges in the fisheries sector. The state government also decided to create 19 additional posts in Araku area hospital, 20 additional posts in Paderu area hospital and to use outsourcing services.

The state also approved the formation of a special account for the management of agricultural products collection and market stabilization fund.

As per one of its decisions, a ban on Communist Party of India (Maoist) and its allied associations has been extended for one more year.

The cabinet also proposed to build an airstrip in Chittoor district's Kuppam. The airstrip would be 450 acres in area and cost an estimated of Rs 95 crore.

The state also gave nod for a medical tourism project in Visakhapatnam under the name AMRIT - Andhra Pradesh Medical Rehabilitation Tourism. The state would also form a state physiotherapy council.