Next Congress Govt Will Pay Salaries And Pensions Of Govt Staff On 1st Of Every month: Uttam

Huzurnagar, November 4: Nalgonda MP and Congress candidate from Huzurnagar constituency Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy has given assurance that the next Congress Government in Telangana would ensure payment of salaries and pensions on the 1st of every month.

He also assured that all issues related to Interim Relief and PRC of employees would be taken up on a priority basis and the interest of employees and pensioners would be protected. He said that the Employees Health Scheme (EHS) is not working properly and the employees and pensioners were not getting the full reimbursement of hospital bills. He said that the next Congress Government would ensure proper reimbursement of all hospital bills.

Uttam Kumar Reddy, on Saturday, had a meeting with the government and retired employees’ representatives to discuss the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), Health Cards, delayed salaries, and other related issues. He accused the BRS Government of neglecting the welfare of employees and pensioners in Telangana.

He strongly advocated for the abolition of CPS and the reimplementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which assures employees 50% of their last drawn salary as pension, as opposed to the contributory nature of the current system. He highlighted that the OPS had been successfully reinstated in Congress-led states such as Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand. He also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for ignoring the demands for OPS restoration and reiterated the Congress party’s commitment to reinstating it in Telangana if voted to power in the coming Assembly elections.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also addressed the grave employment situation in Telangana, where the unemployment rate stands at a stark 15.1%. He pointed out that over 22 lakh hopefuls have registered with the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) for job exams, yet remain unemployed. The government’s inability to implement the unemployment allowance of Rs. 3,016 per month, promised before the 2018 Assembly elections, amounts to a debt of Rs. 1,71,912 to every jobless youth, he said.

He emphasized that the BRS government had also neglected to report 1.91 lakh vacancies in government departments, as mentioned by the Biswal Committee. While the government has proclaimed the filling of 1,41,735 vacancies and plans for another 80,039, the Biswal Committee indicated a necessity to fill 191,126 posts. He said that the State Government had failed to fill 24,000 teacher positions and an additional 12,000 in the higher education sector, leading to a staggering 64.9% vacancy rate in higher education.

Uttam Kumar Reddy noted that many government employees, barring those in Hyderabad and its suburbs, are experiencing delayed salaries, which is adversely affecting their financial stability and CIBIL scores. This is especially concerning for police, teachers, and medical staff.

He also highlighted the plight of around 3,000 ASHA workers and over 54,000 mid-day meal workers, who are fighting for regularization, adequate wages, and benefits like provident funds and insurance. Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad employees also joined the chorus for equal treatment as government employees. He pointed out the BRS government’s broken promise to regularize all contracts and outsourcing staff.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also condemned the delay in the constitution of the second Pay Revision Commission (PRC). He said the announcement of a 5% interim relief was insufficient.

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