The Hindu : Front Page : Government, JAC reach agreement; agitation ends

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Monday, Jan 24, 2011
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Government, JAC reach agreement; agitation ends

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The State government has accepted a majority of the demands raised by the Joint Action Committee of Employees, Teachers and Workers entailing an expenditure of Rs. 550 crore.

The employees have decided to call off their agitation after a series of discussions with the Cabinet sub-committee headed by Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayan Reddy.

The agreement was reached ahead of the commencement of Rachabanda programme from Monday and Mr. Ramanarayan Reddy said the employees had assured their full-fledged participation in the programme.

The two sides met Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy in the afternoon where the latter gave his nod to almost all the 11 demands put forth by the staff.

Some of the demands were raising the gratuity limit from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh, filling vacant posts, medical services to government employees through Arogyasri Trust, hike in HRA, scrapping apprentice system in teachers' recruitment and regularisation of services of temporary staff in the Panchayat Raj Department.

Announcing this at a press conference, the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister said while the agreement reached on the employees' demands would entail an expenditure of Rs. 550 crore, the government had already incurred an expenditure of Rs. 5,150 crore on account of implementation of Pay Revision Commission in February last year.

Expresses satisfaction

The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the development saying it would augur well for Rachabanda, the prestigious programme aimed at covering left out beneficiaries under various welfare schemes. “Today is a good day as the government succeeded in reaching an agreement with the employees,” he said. He, however, refused to reply to queries on his challenge to supporters of former MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to resign their posts and contest again, in New Delhi on Saturday.

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