VIJAYAWADA: The YSRC has started a campaign to persuade government employees and teachers that the 11th Pay Revision Commission recommendations and other benefits given by the state work in their favour. Employees unions have announced their plans to go on strike from next month.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed ministers, legislators and party leaders to explain to the staff the pro-employee stand of the YSRC government.
The YSRC released a booklet carrying all details of the PRC to MPs, MLAs, MLCs and party leaders and contexting it with the financial condition of the state. The party leaders were instructed to meet employees and leaders of unions and associations and try and persuade them.
Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed ministers to explain about the falling state revenues, decrease of tax share coming from the Centre, limits placed on borrowing, the Coronavirus-related impact on revenues and other problems that AP faces.
The Chief Minister asked legislators to tell employees that the government had given them 27 per cent interim relief, costing Rs.17,900 crore, which it could have otherwise used for welfare schemes. The implementation of the PRC would cost the exchequer Rs.10,240 crore.
He said that some people were trying to mislead employees by claiming that their salary would fall due to the 11 PRC. The PRC percentages were on par with what was in vogue in six states. The living standards had improved, hence the increase of the retirement age from 60 to 62 years would benefit the employees.
Jagan Mohan Reddy said the government was allotting 10 per cent in Smart townships and giving a 20 per cent discount to the employees.
He said the YSRC government had given permanent employment to 1.28 lakh persons in its first year in power. “We have integrated RTC personnel in the government. The salaries of Asha workers, sanitation workers, anganwadi workers and village assistant officers have all been increased,” he said and asked party leaders to tell government employees not to fall in the trap of TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The Chief Minister said that the government had not field cases on employees for holding protests it wanted to resolve the issues through consultations.
