VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government today gave its nod for a phase-wise recruitment on 20,000 government posts lying vacant.The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu , Information and Public Relations Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy told reporters."Thousands of government jobs are lying vacant but given the financial constraints faced by the state, we are taking up 'need-based recruitment' to fill the vacancies," Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu told the Assembly during the recent Budget session.He also announced in his Budget speech that the Finance Department was in the process of according permission for filling 20,000 posts through direct recruitment.After a detailed discussion on the subject, the Cabinet gave the go-ahead for filling up 20,000 vacancies in a phased manner, Palle told reporters after the meeting today.This was in addition to the permission already accorded to fill 12,358 posts in various categories of administrative, technical and managerial services through direct recruitment.During the meeting that continued for over six hours, the Cabinet discussed a host of issues, including the state's critical financial situation.The Cabinet also discussed the free sand supply policy and decided to continue it.A mobile App would soon be launched to implement the policy effectively, the minister said.