Telangana govt employees plan protests against Congress apathy

To begin with, a large-scale meeting of all employees is scheduled on May 5 in the city and this would be followed with protests in all district headquarters on May 15

HYDERABAD: With the Congress government failing to keep its word in fulfilling their long-pending demands, government employees in the State have drawn up plans to launch protests until their issues are addressed.

To begin with, a large-scale meeting of all employees is scheduled on May 5 in the city and this would be followed with protests in all district headquarters on May 15. On June 9, a maha dharna is being planned in the city, said Eluri Srinivasa Rao, Secretary General of the Joint Action Committee of Telangana Employees, Gazetted Officers, Teachers, Workers and Pensions (TGEJAC).

The employees have been demanding payment of five Dearness Allowances, pending since July 1, 2022. Of these, one was sanctioned, the rest have been pending. They are also demanding 51 percent fitment as the PRC report is yet to be submitted to the government.

Similarly, the employees want the Old Pension System to be implemented and scrap the Contributory Pension System. Likewise, there are nearly 45 non-financial and 12 financial demands of the employees.

If not for all the financial demands, the government could have initiated measures for addressing at least the 45 non-financial demands, the employees argue.

It has been long since the State government has assured to fulfill the employees demands. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Ministers held meeting with the representatives of 40 associations in October last and sought time till March to keep their word but nothing concrete has been done so far, he said.

Further, a Cabinet Sub Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister. Till date not a single meeting has been convened with the employees. This apart, assurance was given that every month Rs.650 crore would be released to clear the pending bills but it did not happen, he said.

“Employees and pensioners are facing a lot of financial challenges. Despite appeals from different associations, they are getting agitated and it is high time the government keeps its word,” Srinivasa Rao said.