The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday announced a set of voluntary austerity measures for public representatives, officials, and citizens, encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and urging officials to cover short distances on foot or by bicycle. The decisions were taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, which discussed proposals aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for national responsibility amid the prevailing war situation and global uncertainty.
Key Measures Announced
Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said the CM outlined measures to be adopted by everyone. He stated, "The initiative is part of the PM's 'My Nation, My Responsibility' call. The CM suggested that public representatives and officials should lead by example by reducing vehicle usage, limiting convoy sizes, conducting more virtual meetings, and observing 'No Vehicle Friday' once a week." The government aims to reduce fuel consumption, protect foreign exchange reserves, and minimize the impact of global disruptions on imports such as oil, gas, and fertilizers.
Encouraging Green Practices
As part of the drive, the government will encourage the use of electric vehicles, adoption of solar power, and environment-friendly practices such as walking and cycling, especially for short distances during official tours. "The CM suggested that ministers and officials commute by bicycle to the secretariat at least once a week to set an example. The government is reviewing fuel usage limits across departments and will prefer EVs for new government vehicle purchases. Awareness campaigns will be launched across the state," Parthasarathy added.
Involving Educational Institutions
Educational institutions will be encouraged to observe two 'no-vehicle days' once a week, while large institutions and universities could consider online classes as part of energy conservation. The government is also examining the feasibility of work-from-home options for select departments twice a week.
Call for Discretionary Spending Cuts
Calling for restraint in discretionary spending, the minister urged people to reduce foreign travel, promote domestic tourism, and prefer indigenous products. He also appealed for self-regulation in gold purchases, citing the impact of gold imports on foreign exchange reserves. "The government will accelerate the installation of rooftop solar panels under the Surya Ghar scheme. Farmers are advised to reduce fertiliser usage by adopting nano and organic fertilisers," Parthasarathy said.
Cabinet Meeting Incident
While the government is implementing austerity measures on a priority basis, some officials from the concerned departments failed to attend the cabinet meeting, which irked the CM. Sources said Naidu sought an explanation from CMO officials and directed them to take action against those who skipped the meeting.
