VIJAYAWADA: Government teachers led by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Organisations (FAPTO) staged protests on Thursday against the PRC implementation, under which they had gheraoed collectorates in districts on Thursday.
The leaders of FAPTO and teachers in large numbers staged protests in Guntur, Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam, Kakinada, Nellore, Kurnool, Vizianagaram, Kadapa, Srikakulam, Ongole, Chittoor, Anantapur etc., terming the 11th PRC as ‘reverse PRC’, seeking cancellation of the same and announcing a better PRC.
The protesters led by MLC Lakshmana Rao tried to gherao the collectorate in Guntur but the police foiled the attempt and arrested them. The MLC alleged that the YSRC government deceived the government employees as the 11 PRC brought down the salaries of the employees. The government, during talks with the employees’ associations and unions, promised a better PRC but announced only a 23 per cent fitment.
FAPTO chairman Joseph Sudheer Babu, general secretary Saratchandra and other leaders said teachers were in a shock over the “unacceptable 11 PRC”, which is decreasing their salaries. The government decreased the quantum of pension indices, which would decrease pension amounts.
AP Congress Committee coordination committee member and woman leader Sunaka Padmasri condemned the arrests of FAPTO leaders in 13 districts, effectively preventing them from holding the protests. She alleged that chief minister Jagan earlier forced teachers to sell liquor and now he used the police force to beat them up during the protests.
Recalling that the earlier government gave a 43 per cent fitment, she claimed that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, while in the Opposition, promised to give more than 43 per cent fitment but as Chief Minister, he deceived government employees. She demanded that the Chief Minister resolve the PRC and other issues of teachers with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, APJAC, APJAC Amaravati, APNGOs and other associations announced their support to FAPTO protests. They conducted meetings with employees unions and associations to chalk out an action plan seeking suspension of PRC implementation, and about the proposed strike.
