Despite CMs’ panels, staff fight on nativity

Hyderabad: The issue of nativity of employees is all set to become a flash point between the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Seemandhra and Telangana employees working in the Secretariat are confident that Chief Minister designates, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh and Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao of Telangana, will stand by them in connection to the nativity clause applicable in division of employees among the two states.

Both the CM designates have formed committees to look into the issue. Sources in Telugu Desam said Mr Naidu has asked a couple of senior party leaders to look into the division of employees and nativity issues while Mr Rao has constituted a three-member panel comprising Mr T. Harish Rao, Mr Swamy Goud and Mr Srinivas Goud.

As per government definition, four years’ education between Classes IV and X is taken as the basis for nativity.
Telangana Secretariat Employees’ Association president Narender Rao told Deccan Chronicle that though they had agreed in principle for the four-year education clause, “what right do Seemandhra employees have in claiming nativity after they participated in the 35-day strike against statehood, and also earned leave and salary for the strike period? How can they want to stay here and work for the Telangana government?” he asked.
He alleged that Seemandhra employees were submitting fabricated documents and certificates to prove their nativity and that the Telangana employees would expose them.

Meanwhile, the Telangana employees are in no mood to allow any Seemandhra employees in the Telangana Secretariat except for genuine cases of medical and health grounds. “Greater Hyderabad is going to be the joint capital for 10 years. Even if Seemandhra employees choose Andhra Pradesh, they can stay in Greater Hyderabad and work in the Seemandhra Secretariat,” said a Telangana employee.

On the other hand, the Seemandhra employees in the Secretariat have dared their Telangana counterparts to agree to option to be given to the employees to pick the government of their choice or abide by the nativity clause prescribed by the government.

AP Secretariat Seemandhra Employees Forum chairman Murali Krishna said, “We (Seemandhra employees) are abiding by the government guidelines on nativity and submitting available documents. If Telangana employees have a problem, then the choice of option should be given. Who knows, may be 95 per cent of the Seemandhra employees will opt to go and only those whose service is less than 10 years may stay back,” he said.

Mr Krishna said it was not correct to accuse the Seemandhra employees of participating in agitations against the T State. “The agitation of Seemandhra employees was to try and stay in united Andhra Pradesh. The T employees could have found fault with Seemandhra employees had they agitated for a separate Seemandhra state and then opt to work for the T state. But it is not the case. Not all the people living in Telangana are in favour of bifurcation of the state and the election results, which saw TD-BJP sweeping polls in Greater Hyderabad, proves it,” he said.

On allegations of fabricated and fake documents being submitted, Mr Krishna dared the T employees to prove it. “As it is the feelings of Seemandhra people have been hurt due to the bifurcation of the state, and if an option to chose between the two states is given, all problems will be solved,” he said.