Telangana: G.O. 317-hit panel to meet CM on Friday
Hyderabad: The G.O. 317 Affected Employees and Teachers Association on Thursday announced they will meet Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday to demand justice for those impacted by the order. This decision was taken during a virtual meeting of the association that saw significant participation.
The association reminded the Chief Minister of his promise made during the election victory to address the grievances of the affected individuals within 48 hours.
"We plan to march to the Chief Minister's residence on June 7 to reiterate our demand for justice and to urge the government to relocate us to our home districts, alongside ensuring our transfers and promotions," said Srikanth R, a spokesperson for the association.
Introduced in December 2021, G.O. 317 has introduced a zonal system for job allocation and transfers, causing significant unrest among state employees and teachers. The order was meant to streamline employment within the newly created districts following Telangana's reorganisation, but has faced a backlash for its perceived arbitrariness and lack of consultation with affected employees.
Employees have reported numerous issues, including being transferred to districts where they have no nativity, effectively uprooting their lives. "The order does not consider the nativity of the employees, which goes against the very purpose of Telangana's formation to protect native rights," noted Nagender Boina, a senior member of the association. Many have also pointed out discrepancies in the seniority lists used for these transfers, with claims of favouritism and errors resulting in undue hardships.
Furthermore, tribal communities have expressed fears that G.O. 317 might dilute the protections offered under the Fifth Schedule, as the order does not specify agency area-specific allotment of cadres. G Janardhan of the Adivasi Employees Welfare and Cultural Association (AEWCA) had earlier said that this move could impact the employment prospects of tribal populations by allowing non-tribal employees to occupy positions in agency areas.
The association had also urged its members to send detailed emails outlining their grievances to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary on June 5-6. Each affected individual was encouraged to involve all family members in this email campaign to amplify their message. "We urged members to reach out to all known affected colleagues and encourage them to join the cause, with their family as well," said Boina.