Andhra Cabinet recommends slew of measures to ward off war impact

Metro India News | AMARAVATI :

No vehicle day, online classes, downsizing convoys, reducing special flights and foreign tours, and deferring gold purchases are some of the measures recommended by the Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Thursday to ward off the economic headwinds emanating from the Gulf war.

Work from home, using public transport, virtual meetings and monitoring fuel consumption were the other recommendations.

Addressing a press conference at the secretariat, Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Minister K Parthasarathy said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu gave a call to people to adopt "My Country, My Responsibility" philosophy for the benefit of the country during this critical time triggered by the US– Israel and Iran war.

"Keeping in mind the current geo-political circumstances….and particularly the pressure on our country's energy needs, forex and the exports of farmers produce…every person with the philosophy of My Country, My Responsibility should take some actions for the benefit of the country," he said, detailing Naidu's deliberations and guidelines in the cabinet.

The cabinet recommendation comes in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to citizens to spend wisely, deferring gold purchases and foreign travel for some time and cut down on the use of petrol-diesel to soften the pressure on the country's forex reserves.

During a crisis like this, the I&PR Minister noted, the utilisation of special flights will be reduced.

Before advising people, Parthasarathy said Naidu called on public representatives, politicians, ministers and government officials to take some steps of restraint to motivate the people to follow suit.

Mainly, he said the CM advised public representatives to downsize their convoys, avoid large numbers of vehicles trailing them and reduce foreign tours.

He mentioned that Naidu advised ministers and MLAs to use public transport as much as possible and also avoid vehicles in favour of bicycles. He also advised doing padayatras during field visits to emerge as a model for the public.

Similarly, he said the CM advised implementing "No Vehicle Friday" to completely avoid using vehicles on that day and conduct virtual meetings.

If needed, he said two or three officials should employ carpooling with their minister to motivate common people, especially at a time when the country is facing challenges.

Further, he said the CM advised universities to consider conducting online classes and encourage "no vehicle, chemical engine-free days" for two days in a week to encourage students against using two-wheelers.

Likewise, he said government offices should also consider work from home (WFH) option for two days a week.

The minister highlighted that the CM appealed to the people of the state to go for "swadesi tours" (domestic tourism) and reduce foreign holidays.

Similarly, he said Naidu, who leads the NDA government in the state, appealed to people to defer their desire to buy gold and also reduce gold purchases in a bid to avoid straining the country's forex resources, among other guidelines.

Andhra CM slashes convoy size in austerity drive

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday reduced the size of his official convoy by over half as part of austerity measures to mitigate the macroeconomic fallout of the West Asia conflict. On Wednesday, Naidu echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for austerity amid the global impact of the US-Iran war. “On CM Chandrababu Naidu’s orders, the convoy size has been reduced to only four cars from 11,” said an official press release.

CM Naidu travelled to the secretariat this morning in his newly streamlined four-vehicle convoy, from his residence in Undavalli, Guntur district. Stating that the use of large cavalcades has become a "fashion" nowadays, he advised public representatives on May 13 to downsize the number of vehicles in their convoys and also reduce their security cover to “set an example.”

He also called on the people of the state to adopt lifestyle changes to support the national economy, exploring tourist destinations within the country rather than holidaying overseas, working from home and cutting down the consumption of fuel.