The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : 8.5 per cent interim relief for Government staff

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 24, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

8.5 per cent interim relief for Government staff

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 23. The Andhra Pradesh Government today announced payment of interim relief of 8.5 per cent of the basic pay to all its employees, teachers and workers, pending implementation of the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) recommendations. It will be effective from March 1 and payable in the salary for the same month.

The decision taken today has averted a major demonstration, `Chalo Assembly', planned by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of employees, teachers and workers in the city tomorrow. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, held a meeting with JAC leaders in the Assembly to sort out the issue following failure of talks between the two sides. The Finance Minister, K. Rosaiah, and the Principal Secretary, Finance, Ramakanth Reddy, were present.

Sources in the Finance Department said the burden on the Government in implementing the interim relief would be to the tune of Rs. 59 crores a month. It would benefit eight lakh employees. They maintained that it could eventually be extended to employees of public sector undertakings, municipalities and pensioners but no formal orders were issued.

GO kept in abeyance

By another decision, the Government agreed to keep in abeyance its order released last month, which revived the collection of professional tax from the employees at the rate of Rs. 100 a month from August, 1997. The Government Order envisaged recovery of the arrears from the said date when the professional tax was enhanced from Rs. 20 to Rs. 100 a month. With the GO being kept in abeyance, the employees will pay only Rs. 20.

JAC leaders — B.V. Subba Rao and B. Mohan Reddy — told reporters after the meeting that they had as a last ditch effort bargained for 9 per cent interim relief which was turned down by the Government. While they had scaled down their demand from 20 to 9 per cent, the Government offered going up the ladder from 5 to 8.5 per cent.

They said the Government had given 10 per cent and 11 per cent interim relief prior to the implementation of PRC recommendations in 1993 and 1999 respectively.

JAC divided

They also said that the Chief Minister had asked the Chief Secretary to discuss the remaining demands with the JAC leaders who were promised that the latest PRC recommendations would be expedited.

The Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Employees Coordination Committee and the United Teachers Federation in separate statements expressed unhappiness at the deal struck with the Government over the payment of interim relief.

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