HYDERABAD: The state Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy at the Secretariat on Sunday, has resolved to give a new face to Telangana — adopting “Jaya Jaya hey Telangana....”, a song penned by poet Ande Sri as the state song, changing the present state emblem, making suitable changes to the Telangana Talli statue and also replacing the ‘TS’ with ‘TG’ on the number plates of vehicles registered in the state.
During the four-hour-long meeting, the decision to start the Budget session of the state Legislature on February 8 was also taken. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan will address the joint session of the Legislature.
Briefing the media later, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said the Cabinet has decided to make suitable changes in the key symbols of the state to wipe out the ‘egoistic traces’. He said the new state symbol would be prepared in consultation with the people.
Additionally, the minister mentioned that the government would initiate a debate among people and decide on changes to the Telangana Talli statue.
Stating that the present symbols were reflecting only ‘raajarikam’, Srinivasa Reddy said the ‘dorala’ symbols would be changed. The new symbols would reflect the separate Telangana movement. He said the suggestions of intellectuals, poets and other sections would be taken before making changes to the symbols.
The minister also said the Cabinet has resolved to implement another two of the six guarantees. “The state government is already implementing two guarantees. So far, 14.25 crore women have utilised free travel in TSRTC buses. Two more Abhaya Hastam guarantees will be announced by the chief minister in the Assembly,” Srinivasa Reddy added.
Although he did not specify the details, announcements regarding domestic gas refills at `500 and free electricity up to 200 units for domestic consumers are likely to be announced during the Assembly session.
The Cabinet also decided to take up the BC caste census in the state. The chief minister had already announced this decision recently and asked officials to study the census taken up in other states.
IT & Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said that the Cabinet approved the setting up of the Kodangal Area Development Authority (KADA). He added that 65 government ITI colleges would be upgraded as Advance Technology Centres. Several new courses would be introduced in these centres so that the youth would get employment, he mentioned.
The Cabinet has also decided to allot 100 acres for the construction of the new Telangana High Court building in Rajendranagar. Additionally, the ministers discussed the matter of releasing prisoners. The Cabinet directed the officials concerned to take legal steps in this regard to give remission to eligible prisoners.
Sridhar Babu recalled that the Union government issued a gazette saying that ‘TG’ should be on the number plates. However, the TRS (now BRS) government used ‘TS’ instead of ‘TG’ against the Centre’s decision, he said, alleging that they thought that the ‘TS’ would reflect that the pink party was in charge. The minister added that the government will deliberate on the current number plate system and make a decision on integrating the existing ‘TS’ number plates with the upcoming ‘TG’ number plates.
Group exams
Sridhar Babu said that though the Cabinet did not take any decision on the filling up of vacancies in government departments, the process to conduct Group-1, Group-2 and other recruitment exams was underway. The government will keep its assurance of filling up two lakh vacancies in the government sector, he added.
The minister said all sections of the people tried for the formation of a separate Telangana and said the new emblem would reflect all their contributions. He said that the decision on new symbols would not be decided by one or two in sitting a room.
After the Governor’s address to the joint session of the Legislature, the Assembly would take up a motion thanking her speech. After which the Budget would be presented in the Assembly, Sridhar Babu said.
New identity for state
’Dorala’ symbols will be changed, say Cabinet members
“Jaya Jaya hey Telangana…”, which is penned by poet
Ande Sri, to be the state song
State emblem to be changed
‘TS’ will be replaced with ‘TG’ on number plates of vehicles registered in the state
Changes will be made to the Telangana Talli statue
The Budget session of the Legislature to commence on February 8