The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Government staff in city determined to go on strike

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Thursday, Jan 10, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Government staff in city determined to go on strike

Special Correspondent

Demand 30 per cent hike in HRA in Greater Hyderabad limits

Unions set Jan. 27 deadline to meet demands
HRA demand in line with increased cost of living

Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

LIVELIHOOD ISSUES: Government employees seeking 30 p.c. hike in HRA staging a protest near the Secretariat on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: The leadership of non-gazetted staff, which has served an indefinite strike notice on the State government, is intent on going ahead with its agitation if the demand for increasing the house rent allowance (HRA) to 30 per cent in Greater Hyderabad limits was not conceded by January 27.

Leaders of unions representing employees, teachers and workers addressed a public meeting after the culmination of a procession by the staff near Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram on Wednesday. A rally was also taken out by the Secretariat employees within their premises.

‘Stir inevitable’

V.Gopal Reddy, president of the AP Non-Gazetted Officers Association, warned that a strike in the State capital would become inevitable from January 27 if the Government remained adamant. He said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had promised at a conference of the association in 2006 that the HRA for Hyderabad would be enhanced from 20 to 30 per cent consequent to the city being conferred A 1 status.

B. Mohan Reddy, MLC, said the Centre had notified Hyderabad as an A 1 city based on a resolution by the State Assembly. It was therefore binding on the government to hike the HRA keeping in view the increased cost of living in the city.

Promise recalled

P. Sudhakar Reddy, MLC, said Finance Minister K. Rosaiah had promised in the last session of the Legislative Council that the demand would be conceded. P. Subba Reddy, MLC, said the government could hike HRA from next month and discuss payment of arrears with the unions. K. Satyanarayana Rao, general secretary of AP Electricity Employees Union, said HRA at 30 per cent was paid in all A 1 cities of the country except Hyderabad. K. Nageswar, MLC, also spoke.

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