AP issues orders for OHA of Rs 6,000 per month

 Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a Government Order (G.O.) extending the benefit of occupational health allowance (OHA) of Rs 6,000 per month to certain categories of workers, on par with public health workers employed in urban local bodies in the state.

Y. Srilakshmi, special chief secretary to the government of municipal administration and urban development, issued G.O.Ms.No.01 on Monday. It may be recalled that municipal workers were observing a strike seeking the fulfillment of various demands, and now the government has issued the G.O. for OHA.

The order states that the government previously issued orders for the payment of occupational health allowance of Rs 6,000 per month to the outsourced public health workers working in urban local bodies in the state. The implementation of this order began on 15th August 2019, aimed at helping outsourced public health workers in urban local bodies cope with occupational health risks arising from waste-handling.

The order further mentions that municipal workers unions have submitted representations on various issues, including the "sanction of occupational health allowance" to drivers working on sanitation vehicles, underground drainage (UGD) workers, malaria workers, etc.

The commissioner of municipal administration in Andhra Pradesh submitted a proposal for the sanction of OHA to drivers working on sanitation vehicles, UGD Workers, malaria workers, etc., as their nature of the job is similar to that of public health workers, involving sanitation-related work. Consequently, the government has ordered the payment of "occupational health allowance" of Rs 6,000 per month to underground drainage workers, drivers of sanitation vehicles, and malaria workers.