The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : YSR: one per cent cess on all civil constructions to net Rs. 500 crore

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Wednesday, May 02, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

YSR: one per cent cess on all civil constructions to net Rs. 500 crore

Special Correspondent

The amount will be used for the welfare of building workers, says Chief Minister

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government has imposed a one per cent cess on all civil constructions across the State and intends to raise Rs. 500 crores per year. This will be used for welfare of building workers.

This was announced by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, while giving away the Shram Shakti awards at the May Day celebrations here on Tuesday.

The decision is a follow-up of the Government's resolve to implement the Andhra Pradesh Building and Other Constructions Welfare Board Act enacted in 1996. "At present, more than Rs. 50,000 crore worth of construction works are going on in the State," Dr. Reddy said.

Welfare board

The Government has also constituted the Building Construction Workers Welfare Board with S. Gopal of Visakhapatnam as chairman.

The Chief Minister said a high-level official committee had been set up to study the problem confronted by the workers in unorganised sectors.

The team would tour other States and replicate the model being implanted there.

Dr. Reddy expressed the hope that the Centre would withdraw its order on the "danger mark" on beedi bundles.

"We are confident that the Centre will shortly heed to our plea," he said and added that the State Government was toying with the idea of providing skill development programmes for the beedi workers.

"A number of apparel and textile parks are coming up in the State, in which trained women can be provided employment. The other option is to provide loans as part of self-employment programmes," he said.

Labour Minister G. Vinod and Special Chief Secretary (Labour and Employment), Asha Murthy explained the initiatives taken by the Government to improve the workers' living conditions.

Dr. Reddy later gave away Shrama Shakti awards to 24 employees and 14 best management awards to companies.

The awardees are: Md Ahmedullah (Medak), P. Bandas (Adilabad), V. Bhaskar Reddy (Hyderabad), D. Bhikshapati (Karimnagar), M. K. Bose (Hyderabad), K. Chengal Raju (Tirupati), Dada Saheb Shaik (Medak), P.Dharmapuri (Karimnagar), N. Janardhan (Nizamabad), D. Laxmi Narayana (Hyderabad), G. Maheshwara Reddy (Visakhapatnam), B. Muneendrudu (Tirupati), K. Narasimha, N. Rajaiah Goud (Warangal), D. Ramudu (Kurnool), G.Satyanarayana (Karimnagar), T. Satyanarayana (Adilabad), G. Shanker (Karimnagar), T. Siva Bhaskar Rao (Tirupati), B. Sreehari (Hyderabad), V.Srinivasa Rao (Visakhapatnam), M. Suri Babu (Adilabad), R.Venudhar Reddy (Hyderabad) and M.Sai Kumar (Visakhapatnam).

The Chief Minister also gave away the best management awards to 14 companies, which are as follows:

Essar Steel Limited, Visakhapatnam, Godavari Fertilisers and Chemical Limited, Kakinada, IDL Division, Gulf Oil Corporation Limited, Hyderabad, ITC Limited, ILTD Division, Chirala, Prakasam district, Kesoram Cement, Karimnagar, Kirby Building Systems (I) Limited, Pashamailaram, Medak district, Madrasi Chakkar Beedi Factory Pvt Limited, Warangal, Natco Pharma Limited, Kothur, Mahabubnagar district, Orient Cement, Devapur, Adilabad district, Rain Calcining Limited, Visakhapatnam, Rane Brake Lining Limited, Medak district, Suven Life Sciences Limited, Suryapet, Nalgonda district and Tulasi Seeds Pvt Limited, Guntur.

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