Jagan assumes charge of secretariat office; enhances salary of ASHA workers to Rs 10,000

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy Saturday asserted his government is committed to providing honest and effective administration.

Soon after formally assuming charge of his office at the state secretariat here, Jagan signed a file enhancing the monthly salary of ASHA (social health activists) workers from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000.

He also promised the government employees that his Cabinet, in its first meeting on June 10, would take decisions on granting interim relief and on scrapping Contributory Pension Scheme.

State Chief Secretary L V Subrahmanyam, Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Ajeya Kallam, Director General of Police (in-charge) Gautam Sawang and a host of YSR Congress leaders and secretariat employees greeted the chief minister on the occasion.

Later, the chief minister addressed a meeting of all government secretaries and heads of departments where he outlined his party's electoral promises and his priorities.

"People have elected this government with a lot of faith. Their aspirations will become a reality only if the officials co-operate fully. I am hopeful that you all will work towards that," Jagan told the bureaucrats.

The YSR Congress party's election manifesto should be the guide for the administration, he said.

He also underlined his commitment for zero-corruption in administration and stressed on the need for transparency.

"That's the reason I have proposed setting up of a judicial commission for awarding government contracts. I am committed to giving an honest and effective government," he added.

Reddy, who led his YSR Congress Party to a thumping victory in the assembly elections, was sworn in as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on May 30.

In the assembly elections, the YSR Congress emerged victorious in 151 constituencies of the total 175 in the state.