The Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government, headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, appears to be struggling to resolve the long-pending issues of state government employees, particularly the payment of dearness allowance, constitution of the Pay Revision Commission and clearance of outstanding dues.
A cabinet subcommittee headed by Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav has been holding talks with employee union leaders. However, the exercise appears to be aimed more at delaying the matter than resolving their demands.
On Wednesday, the cabinet subcommittee once again held discussions with union leaders and assured them that the government would make every possible effort to address their long-pending demands.
The meeting, which lasted nearly five hours, brought together representatives of 21 employee unions to discuss a range of service-related issues.
Keshav said the government had taken note of all the concerns raised by the unions and would place them before Chandrababu Naidu for consideration.
Among the key demands presented by the unions were the immediate constitution of the Pay
Revision Commission, announcement of Interim Relief, release of pending Dearness Allowance instalments and timely clearance of outstanding bills.
Keshav said the government had already demonstrated a positive approach towards employees by implementing the Old Pension Scheme in applicable cases and increasing the retirement age of public sector undertaking employees.
He also said the Chief Minister was making continuous efforts to improve the state’s financial position despite inheriting a heavy debt burden from the previous government. He added that the Centre was extending support to Andhra Pradesh.
AP Joint Action Committee chairman A. Vidyasagar said employees had expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to constitute the PRC, announce Interim Relief or release four pending DA instalments even after completing two years in office.
He acknowledged that the government had cleared pending dues worth Rs 22,000 crore since assuming office, but urged it to announce a clear roadmap for settling outstanding arrears related to surrendered leave, DA and PRC benefits.
He also requested that outsourced employees be made eligible for government welfare schemes.
AP JAC Amaravati chairman Bopparaju Venkateswarlu said union representatives had informed the ministers that delays in constituting the PRC and announcing Interim Relief had adversely affected employees.
He also pointed out that the issue of health cards remained unresolved despite an earlier assurance from the Chief Minister that it would be addressed within 60 days.
Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Employees’ Association president G Ramakrishna called for the immediate formation of the PRC committee, announcement of Interim Relief and speedy implementation of the housing policy for government employees in Amaravati.
United Teachers Federation General Secretary K S S Prasad urged the government to resolve issues related to unified service rules for teachers, merge the Model School Society with the School Education Department, grant financial approval for upgrading Telugu and Hindi teaching posts, fill compassionate appointment vacancies for the families of Zilla Parishad teachers and regularise contract lecturers.
